Compositions for treating muscular dystrophy

ABSTRACT

Improved compositions and methods for treating muscular dystrophy by administering antisense molecules capable of binding to a selected target site in the human dystrophin gene to induce exon skipping are described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/213,629, filed Mar. 14, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/793,463, filed on Mar. 15, 2013. The entire contents of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing associated with this application has been submitted electronically in ASCII format, and is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification in its entirety. The name of the text file containing the sequence Listing is AVN-012ACN_Sequence_Listing. The text file is 190662 bytes, was created on Nov. 22, 2016 and is being submitted electronically via EFS-Web.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improved methods for treating muscular dystrophy in a patient. It also provides compositions suitable for facilitating exon skipping in the human dystrophin gene.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Antisense technologies are being developed using a range of chemistries to affect gene expression at a variety of different levels (transcription, splicing, stability, translation). Much of that research has focused on the use of antisense compounds to correct or compensate for abnormal or disease-associated genes in a wide range of indications. Antisense molecules are able to inhibit gene expression with specificity, and because of this, many research efforts concerning oligonucleotides as modulators of gene expression have focused on inhibiting the expression of targeted genes or the function of cis-acting elements. The antisense oligonucleotides are typically directed against RNA, either the sense strand (e.g., mRNA), or minus-strand in the case of some viral RNA targets. To achieve a desired effect of specific gene down-regulation, the oligonucleotides generally either promote the decay of the targeted mRNA, block translation of the mRNA or block the function of cis-acting RNA elements, thereby effectively preventing either de novo synthesis of the target protein or replication of the viral RNA.

However, such techniques are not useful where the object is to up-regulate production of the native protein or compensate for mutations that induce premature termination of translation, such as nonsense or frame-shifting mutations. In these cases, the defective gene transcript should not be subjected to targeted degradation or steric inhibition, so the antisense oligonucleotide chemistry should not promote target mRNA decay or block translation.

In a variety of genetic diseases, the effects of mutations on the eventual expression of a gene can be modulated through a process of targeted exon skipping during the splicing process. The splicing process is directed by complex multi-component machinery that brings adjacent exon-intron junctions in pre-mRNA into close proximity and performs cleavage of phosphodiester bonds at the ends of the introns with their subsequent reformation between exons that are to be spliced together. This complex and highly precise process is mediated by sequence motifs in the pre-mRNA that are relatively short, semi-conserved RNA segments to which various nuclear splicing factors that are then involved in the splicing reactions bind. By changing the way the splicing machinery reads or recognizes the motifs involved in pre-mRNA processing, it is possible to create differentially spliced mRNA molecules. It has now been recognized that the majority of human genes are alternatively spliced during normal gene expression, although the mechanisms involved have not been identified. Bennett et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,892) describe antisense modulation of wild-type cellular mRNA processing using antisense oligonucleotide analogs that do not induce RNAse H-mediated cleavage of the target RNA. This finds utility in being able to generate alternatively spliced mRNAs that lack specific exons (e.g., as described by (Sazani, Kole, et al. 2007) for the generation of soluble TNF superfamily receptors that lack exons encoding membrane spanning domains.

In cases where a normally functional protein is prematurely terminated because of mutations therein, a means for restoring some functional protein production through antisense technology has been shown to be possible through intervention during the splicing processes, and that if exons associated with disease-causing mutations can be specifically deleted from some genes, a shortened protein product can sometimes be produced that has similar biological properties of the native protein or has sufficient biological activity to ameliorate the disease caused by mutations associated with the exon (see e.g., Sierakowska, Sambade et al. 1996; Wilton, Lloyd et al. 1999; van Deutekom, Bremmer-Bout et al. 2001; Lu, Mann et al. 2003; Aartsma-Rus, Janson et al. 2004). Kole et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,627,274; 5,916,808; 5,976,879; and 5,665,593) disclose methods of combating aberrant splicing using modified antisense oligonucleotide analogs that do not promote decay of the targeted pre-mRNA. Bennett et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,892) describe antisense modulation of wild-type cellular mRNA processing also using antisense oligonucleotide analogs that do not induce RNAse H-mediated cleavage of the target RNA.

The process of targeted exon skipping is likely to be particularly useful in long genes where there are many exons and introns, where there is redundancy in the genetic constitution of the exons or where a protein is able to function without one or more particular exons. Efforts to redirect gene processing for the treatment of genetic diseases associated with truncations caused by mutations in various genes have focused on the use of antisense oligonucleotides that either: (1) fully or partially overlap with the elements involved in the splicing process; or (2) bind to the pre-mRNA at a position sufficiently close to the element to disrupt the binding and function of the splicing factors that would normally mediate a particular splicing reaction which occurs at that element.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by a defect in the expression of the protein dystrophin. The gene encoding the protein contains 79 exons spread out over more than 2 million nucleotides of DNA. Any exonic mutation that changes the reading frame of the exon, or introduces a stop codon, or is characterized by removal of an entire out of frame exon or exons, or duplications of one or more exons, has the potential to disrupt production of functional dystrophin, resulting in DMD.

Disease onset can be documented at birth with elevated creatine kinase levels, and significant motor deficits may be present in the first year of life. By the age of seven or eight, most patients with DMD have an increasingly labored gait and are losing the ability to rise from the floor and climb stairs; by ages 10 to 14, most are wheelchair-dependent. DMD is uniformly fatal; affected individuals typically die of respiratory and/or cardiac failure in their late teens or early 20s. The continuous progression of DMD allows for therapeutic intervention at all stages of the disease; however, treatment is currently limited to glucocorticoids, which are associated with numerous side effects including weight gain, behavioral changes, pubertal changes, osteoporosis, Cushingoid facies, growth inhibition, and cataracts. Consequently, developing better therapies to treat the underlying cause of this disease is imperative.

A less severe form of muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) has been found to arise where a mutation, typically a deletion of one or more exons, results in a correct reading frame along the entire dystrophin transcript, such that translation of mRNA into protein is not prematurely terminated. If the joining of the upstream and downstream exons in the processing of a mutated dystrophin pre-mRNA maintains the correct reading frame of the gene, the result is an mRNA coding for a protein with a short internal deletion that retains some activity, resulting in a Becker phenotype.

For many years it has been known that deletions of an exon or exons which do not alter the reading frame of a dystrophin protein would give rise to a BMD phenotype, whereas an exon deletion that causes a frame-shift will give rise to DMD (Monaco, Bertelson et al. 1988). In general, dystrophin mutations including point mutations and exon deletions that change the reading frame and thus interrupt proper protein translation result in DMD. It should also be noted that some BMD and DMD patients have exon deletions covering multiple exons.

Modulation of mutant dystrophin pre-mRNA splicing with antisense oligoribonucleotides has been reported both in vitro and in vivo (see e.g., Matsuo, Masumura et al. 1991; Takeshima, Nishio et al. 1995; Pramono, Takeshima et al. 1996; Dunckley, Eperon et al. 1997; Dunckley, Manoharan et al. 1998; Errington, Mann et al. 2003).

The first example of specific and reproducible exon skipping in the mdx mouse model was reported by Wilton et al. (Wilton, Lloyd et al. 1999). By directing an antisense molecule to the donor splice site, consistent and efficient exon 23 skipping was induced in the dystrophin mRNA within 6 hours of treatment of the cultured cells. Wilton et al. also describe targeting the acceptor region of the mouse dystrophin pre-mRNA with longer antisense oligonucleotides. While the first antisense oligonucleotide directed at the intron 23 donor splice site induced consistent exon skipping in primary cultured myoblasts, this compound was found to be much less efficient in immortalized cell cultures expressing higher levels of dystrophin. However, with refined targeting and antisense oligonucleotide design, the efficiency of specific exon removal was increased by almost an order of magnitude (Mann, Honeyman et al. 2002).

Recent studies have begun to address the challenge of achieving sustained dystrophin expression accompanied by minimal adverse effects in tissues affected by the absence of dystrophin. Intramuscular injection of an antisense oligonucleotide targeted to exon 51 (PRO051) into the tibialis anterior muscle in four patients with DMD resulted in specific skipping of exon 51 without any clinically apparent adverse effects (Mann, Honeyman et al. 2002; van Deutekom, Janson et al. 2007). Studies looking at systemic delivery of an antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer conjugated to a cell-penetrating peptide (PPMO) targeted to exon 23 in mdx mice produced high and sustained dystrophin protein production in skeletal and cardiac muscles without detectable toxicity (Jearawiriyapaisarn, Moulton et al. 2008; Wu, Moulton et al. 2008; Yin, Moulton et al. 2008).

Recent clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy of splice switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) for the treatment of DMD are based on SSO technology to induce alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs by steric blockade of the spliceosome (Cirak et al., 2011; Goemans et al., 2011; Kinali et al., 2009; van Deutekom et al., 2007). However, despite these successes, the pharmacological options available for treating DMD are limited. Notably, an antisense oligonucleotide (drisapersen), which utilizes a negatively charged phosphorothioate backbone, has been associated in clinical trials with proteinuria, increased urinary α1-microglobulin, thrombocytopenia and injection site reactions, such as erythema and inflammation.

Thus, there remains a need for improved compositions and methods for treating muscular dystrophy, such as DMD and BMD in patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based, at least in part, on compelling evidence of a therapeutic effect of an exon skipping antisense oligonucleotide, eteplirsen, which represents a major advance in the treatment of DMD by addressing the underlying cause of the disease. The novel finding that treatment with an exon 51 skipping antisense oligonucleotide, eteplirsen, produced reliable increases in novel dystrophin and stabilized walking ability (e.g., stabilization of ambulation), as measured by the 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), underscores the potential alter the course of the disease. Significantly, no drug-related adverse events were seen in 576 infusions administered over one year. When applied to other exons, the use of exon skipping antisense oligonucleotides could treat an estimated 70% to 80% of patients who have DMD due to a deletion in the dystrophin gene.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to methods of treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) or Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) in patients by administering an effective amount of a composition comprising an antisense oligonucleotide of 20 to 50 nucleotides in length comprising at least 10 consecutive nucleotides complementary to a target region in an exon of the human dystrophin gene to specifically hybridize to the target region, induce exon skipping, and thereby treat the disease. In one embodiment, an effective amount is at least 20 mg/kg for a period of time sufficient to increase the number of dystrophin-positive fibers in a subject to at least 20% of normal, and stabilize, maintain, or improve walking distance from a 20% deficit, for example in a 6 MWT, in the patient, relative to a healthy peer. In another embodiment, an effective amount is at least 20 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, about 25 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, or about 30 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg. In yet another embodiment, an effective amount is about 30 mg/kg or about 50 mg/kg.

In another aspect, an effective amount is at least 20 mg/kg, about 25 mg/kg, about 30 mg/kg, or about 30 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, for at least 24 weeks, at least 36 weeks, or at least 48 weeks, to thereby increase the number of dystrophin-positive fibers in a subject to at least 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, about 95% of normal, and stabilize or improve walking distance from a 20% deficit, for example in a 6 MWT, in the patient relative to a healthy peer. In one embodiment, treatment increases the number of dystrophin-positive fibers to 20-60%, or 30-50% of normal in the patient. In some embodiments, treatment is by systemic administration, such as once weekly by infusion. In other embodiments, treatment includes administering another therapeutic agent, such as a steroid to the subject.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating DMD or BMD in a patient by administering about 30 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg of a composition comprising an antisense oligonucleotide of 20 to 50 nucleotides in length comprising at least 10 consecutive nucleotides complementary to a target region in an exon of the human dystrophin gene, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide specifically hybridizes to the target region inducing exon skipping, thereby treating the subject. In one embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is substantially uncharged. In another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises morpholino subunits linked by phosphorus-containing intersubunit linkages joining a morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to a 5′ exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit. In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises morpholino subunits linked by substantially uncharged phosphorus-containing intersubunit linkages joining a morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to a 5′ exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit. In other aspects, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises morpholino subunits and phosphorodiamidate intersubunit linkages.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide is 20 to 50, 30 to 50, or 20 to 30 nucleotides in length comprising at least 10, 12, 15, 17, or 20 consecutive nucleotides complementary to a target region in an exon of the human dystrophin gene selected from the group consisting of exon 51, exon 50, exon 53, exon 45, exon 46, exon 44, exon 52, exon 55 and exon 8. In one embodiment, the antisense is 20 to 50, 30 to 50, or 20 to 30 nucleotides in length and includes at least 20 consecutive nucleotides eteplirsen (SEQ ID NO: 1). In another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is 20 to 50, 30 to 50, or 20 to 30 nucleotides in length and includes at least 10, 12, 15, 17, or 20 consecutive nucleotides of the antisense oligonucleotide set forth as SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, or SEQ ID NO: 9. In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is 20 to 50, 30 to 50, or 20 to 30 nucleotides in length and includes at least 10, 12, 15, 17, or 20 consecutive nucleotides of a nucleotide sequences set forth in Tables 3 and 4, wherein uracil bases in the antisense oligonucleotide are optionally thymine bases.

In one embodiment, the composition includes eteplirsen (SEQ ID NO: 1), and, optionally, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another embodiment, the composition includes an antisense oligonucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-9, such as SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, and SEQ ID NO: 9. In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is any one or a combination of the nucleotide sequences set forth in Tables 3 and 4, wherein uracil bases in the antisense oligonucleotide are optionally thymine bases. In some aspects, the antisense oligonucleotide is chemically linked to one or more moieties or conjugates that enhance the activity, cellular distribution, or cellular uptake of the antisense oligonucleotide, such as an arginine-rich peptide.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating DMD or BMD in a patient by administering at least 20 mg/kg of a composition comprising eteplirsen (SEQ ID NO: 1) for a period of time sufficient to increase the number of dystrophin-positive fibers in a subject to at least about 20% of normal, and stabilize or improve walking distance from a 20% deficit, for example in a 6 MWT, in the patient, relative to a healthy peer. In another embodiment, an effective amount is at least 20 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, about 25 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, or about 30 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg of a composition comprising eteplirsen (SEQ ID NO: 1), and, optionally, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as phosphate-buffered saline.

In another aspect, an effective amount of a composition comprising eteplirsen (SEQ ID NO: 1) is at least 20 mg/kg, about 25 mg/kg, about 30 mg/kg, or about 30 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, for at least 24 weeks, at least 36 weeks, or at least 48 weeks, to thereby increase the number of dystrophin-positive fibers in a subject to at least about 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, about 95% of normal, and stabilize or improve walking distance from a 20% deficit, for example in a 6 MWT, in the patient relative to a healthy peer. In some embodiments, treatment with antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention slows or reduces the loss of ambulation that would be expected without treatment. In some embodiments, treatment with the antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention stabilizes, maintains, or increases a stable walking distance in a patient. For example, treatment may increase the stable walking distance in the patient from baseline to greater than 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or 50 meters (including all integers in between).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary morpholino oligomer structure with a phosphorodiamidate linkage.

FIG. 1B shows a conjugate of an arginine-rich peptide and an antisense oligomer, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1C shows a conjugate as in FIG. 1B, wherein the backbone linkages contain one or more positively charged groups.

FIGS. 1D-G show the repeating subunit segment of exemplary morpholino oligonucleotides, designated D through G.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the study design for treating DMD patients. Twelve DMD patients were randomized to one of three cohorts in the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 201: Cohort 1, eteplirsen 30 mg/kg/wk; Cohort 2, eteplirsen 50 mg/kg/wk; and Cohort 3, placebo/delayed eteplirsen. At week 25, placebo-treated patients in Cohort 3 switched to open-label treatment with 30 or 50 mg/kg/week eteplirsen. Patients were maintained on their same dose of eteplirsen under the open-label extension study, 202. Muscle Biopsies. Patients underwent biceps biopsies at baseline and deltoid biopsies at week 48 for analysis of dystrophin. Additional biceps biopsies were obtained at week 12 (from patients in Cohort 2 and two patients in Cohort 3) or week 24 (from patients in Cohort 1 and two patients in Cohort 3). Efficacy Evaluations. The 6MWT was used as a functional outcome measure and was performed pre-treatment and every 12 weeks post treatment through week 48.

FIG. 3 depicts dystrophin-positive muscle fibers after 12, 24, and 48 weeks of eteplirsen. Panels A and B show the mean absolute change from baseline in the percentage of dystrophin-positive fibers at weeks 12, 24, and week 48 by treatment group. In Panel A: *P-value is for comparison between eteplirsen and placebo using the pooled results from weeks 12 and 24, and is based on an analysis of covariance model for ranked data with treatment as a fixed effect and baseline value and time since DMD diagnosis as covariates. Mean changes shown are based on descriptive statistics. ^(†)P-value is from a paired t-test comparing the week 48 value to baseline. ^(‡)Results from the placebo-treated patients biopsied at weeks 12 and 24 are pooled. § Placebo/delayed eteplirsen patients began receiving eteplirsen at week 25 and had received a total of 24 doses at week 48. Abbreviations: BL=baseline; NA=not applicable; ND=not done; NS=not significant; SE=standard error.

FIG. 4 shows the effects of eteplirsen on the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex. (A) Representative examples of time-dependent increases, in dystrophin-positive fibers in relation to treatment for all participating study patients. (B) nNOS μ staining in muscle from DMD (a) and normal (c) control patients (not in study), and from patient 6 at baseline (b) and week 48 (d), demonstrates restoration of nNOSμ binding with eteplirsen. β-sarcoglycan (e) and γ-sarcoglycan (f) staining in patient 6 at week 48 demonstrate restoration of the sarcoglycan complex with eteplirsen. (C) RT-PCR shows skipped product (289 bp) post-treatment in the muscle of patient 12.

FIG. 5 graphically depicts the functional efficacy of eteplirsen. The dark purple line shows the change from baseline in distance walked on the 6MWT over time for the 6 evaluable patients who received eteplirsen from the start of 201 (two boys were unable to at or beyond week 24 were excluded from this analysis). The gray line shows change from baseline in distance walked on the 6MWT for the 4 patients who received placebo for the first 24 weeks and eteplirsen for the last 24 weeks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to improved methods for treating muscular dystrophy, such as DMD and BMD, by administering antisense compounds that are specifically designed to induce exon skipping in the human dystrophin gene. Dystrophin plays a vital role in muscle function, and various muscle-related diseases are characterized by mutated forms of this gene. Hence, in certain embodiments, the improved methods described herein may be used for inducing exon skipping in mutated forms of the human dystrophin gene, such as the mutated dystrophin genes found in DMD and BMD.

Due to aberrant mRNA splicing events caused by mutations, these mutated human dystrophin genes either express defective dystrophin protein or express no measurable dystrophin at all, a condition that leads to various forms of muscular dystrophy. To remedy this condition, the antisense compounds of the present invention hybridize to selected regions of a pre-processed RNA of a mutated human dystrophin gene, induce exon skipping and differential splicing in that otherwise aberrantly spliced dystrophin mRNA, and thereby allow muscle cells to produce an mRNA transcript that encodes a functional dystrophin protein. In certain embodiments, the resulting dystrophin protein is not necessarily the “wild-type” form of dystrophin, but is rather a truncated, yet functional or semi-functional, form of dystrophin.

By increasing the levels of functional dystrophin protein in muscle cells, these and related embodiments are useful in the prophylaxis and treatment of muscular dystrophy, especially those forms of muscular dystrophy, such as DMD and BMD, that are characterized by the expression of defective dystrophin proteins due to aberrant mRNA splicing. The methods described herein further provide improved treatment options for patients with muscular dystrophy and offer significant and practical advantages over alternate methods of treating relevant forms of muscular dystrophy. For example, in some embodiments, the improved methods relate to the administration of an antisense compound for inducing exon skipping in the human dystrophin gene at a higher dose and/or for a longer duration than prior approaches.

Thus, the invention relates to improved methods for treating muscular dystrophy such as DMD and BMD, by inducing exon skipping in a patient. In some embodiments, exon skipping is induced by administering an effective amount of a composition which includes a charge-neutral, phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO), such as eteplirsen, which selectively binds to a target sequence in an exon of dystrophin pre-mRNA. In some embodiments, the invention relates to methods of treating DMD or BMD in which an effective amount of a composition e.g., at least 20 mg/kg, about 25 mg/kg, about 30 mg/kg or about 30 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, which includes an antisense as described herein, such as eteplirsen, over a period of time sufficient to treat the disease.

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of eteplirsen as a disease-modifying therapy for treating DMD. In a clinical study described in the Examples, no drug-related adverse events were seen in 576 infusions of eteplirsen administered over one year, nor were there any infusion-associated reactions, cardiac abnormalities, or any other organ system involvement. There was also no evidence of glomerular or renal tubular dysfunction in eteplirsen-treated patients over the course of the study (e.g., no proteinuria, elevations in serum cytstatin C, or urine cystatin C or KIM-1). Without being bound by theory, the safety profile of eteplirsen and other exon-skipping antisense oligonucleotides described herein may be attributed to its unique chemical composition, which is characterized by nucleotides bound to morpholine rings linked through charge-neutral phosphorodiamidate moieties.

In DMD patients treated with eteplirsen for one year, the mean percentage of dystrophin-positive fibers was increased to 47% of normal, relative to baseline. The magnitude of the increase was dependent upon treatment duration. Significant increases in dystrophin levels were observed in the 24-week biopsies taken from patients in Cohort 1 (30 mg/kg) and in the 48-week biopsies from patients in Cohort 3 (who started eteplirsen at week 25).

Eteplirsen's clinical benefit mirrored its ability to induce exon skipping and restore functional dystrophin production. Clinical effect was assessed with the 6MWT, a measure of endurance and muscular capacity that goes beyond the assessment of strength in individual muscle groups. Patients who received 30 or 50 mg/kg eteplirsen from the beginning maintained a stable walking distance over 48 weeks, consistent with eteplirsen-induced increases in novel dystrophin expression between weeks 12 and 24. In contrast, patients in the placebo/delayed eteplirsen cohort lost 70 meters by week 36, but appeared to stabilize by week 48 (24 weeks after initiating eteplirsen). This is the same timeframe in which a clinical impact was seen in patients who received 30 or 50 mg/kg eteplirsen once a week from the start of the study.

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the evidence of a therapeutic effect of eteplirsen, which represents a major advance in the treatment of DMD by addressing the underlying cause of the disease. Accordingly, the invention relates to methods of treating DMD or BMD in patients by administering an effective amount of a composition which includes an antisense oligonucleotide, such as eteplirsen, which is complementary to a target region in an exon of the human dystrophin gene to specifically hybridize to the target region, induce exon skipping, and treat the disease. In one embodiment, treatment is by administering one or more antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention (e.g., a nucleotide sequence shown in Tables 3 and 4), optionally as part of a pharmaceutical formulation or dosage form, to a subject in need thereof. Treatment includes inducing exon-skipping in a subject by administering an effective amount of one or more antisense oligonucleotides, in which the exon is any one or more of exons 1-79 from the dystrophin gene. Preferably, the exon is exon 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 or 8 from the human dystrophin gene.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, preferred methods and materials are described. For the purposes of the present invention, the following terms are defined below.

I. DEFINITIONS

By “about” is meant a quantity, level, value, number, frequency, percentage, dimension, size, amount, weight or length that varies by as much as 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1% to a reference quantity, level, value, number, frequency, percentage, dimension, size, amount, weight or length.

The terms “complementary” and “complementarity” refer to polynucleotides (i.e., a sequence of nucleotides) related by base-pairing rules. For example, the sequence “T-G-A (5′-3′),” is complementary to the sequence “T-C-A (5′-3′).” Complementarity may be “partial,” in which only some of the nucleic acids' bases are matched according to base pairing rules. Or, there may be “complete” or “total” complementarity between the nucleic acids. The degree of complementarity between nucleic acid strands has significant effects on the efficiency and strength of hybridization between nucleic acid strands. While perfect complementarity is often desired, some embodiments can include one or more but preferably 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 mismatches with respect to the target RNA. Variations at any location within the oligomer are included. In certain embodiments, variations in sequence near the termini of an oligomer are generally preferable to variations in the interior, and if present are typically within about 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 nucleotides of the 5′ and/or 3′ terminus.

The terms “cell penetrating peptide” and “CPP” are used interchangeably and refer to cationic cell penetrating peptides, also called transport peptides, carrier peptides, or peptide transduction domains. The peptides, as shown herein, have the capability of inducing cell penetration within 100% of cells of a given cell culture population and allow macromolecular translocation within multiple tissues in vivo upon systemic administration. A preferred CPP embodiment is an arginine-rich peptide as described further below.

The terms “antisense oligomer” and “antisense compound” and “antisense oligonucleotide” are used interchangeably and refer to a sequence of cyclic subunits, each bearing a base-pairing moiety, linked by intersubunit linkages that allow the base-pairing moieties to hybridize to a target sequence in a nucleic acid (typically an RNA) by Watson-Crick base pairing, to form a nucleic acid:oligomer heteroduplex within the target sequence. The cyclic subunits are based on ribose or another pentose sugar or, in a preferred embodiment, a morpholino group (see description of morpholino oligomers below). The oligomer may have exact or near sequence complementarity to the target sequence; variations in sequence near the termini of an oligomer are generally preferable to variations in the interior.

Such an antisense oligomer can be designed to block or inhibit translation of mRNA or to inhibit natural pre-mRNA splice processing, and may be said to be “directed to” or “targeted against” a target sequence with which it hybridizes. The target sequence is typically a region including an AUG start codon of an mRNA, a Translation Suppressing Oligomer, or splice site of a pre-processed mRNA, a Splice Suppressing Oligomer (SSO). The target sequence for a splice site may include an mRNA sequence having its 5′ end 1 to about 25 base pairs downstream of a normal splice acceptor junction in a preprocessed mRNA. A preferred target sequence is any region of a preprocessed mRNA that includes a splice site or is contained entirely within an exon coding sequence or spans a splice acceptor or donor site. An oligomer is more generally said to be “targeted against” a biologically relevant target, such as a protein, virus, or bacteria, when it is targeted against the nucleic acid of the target in the manner described above.

The terms “morpholino oligomer” or “PMO” (phosphoramidate- or phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer) refer to an oligonucleotide analog composed of morpholino subunit structures, where (i) the structures are linked together by phosphorus-containing linkages, one to three atoms long, preferably two atoms long, and preferably uncharged or cationic, joining the morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to a 5′ exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit, and (ii) each morpholino ring bears a purine or pyrimidine base-pairing moiety effective to bind, by base specific hydrogen bonding, to a base in a polynucleotide. See, for example, the structure in FIG. 1A, which shows a preferred phosphorodiamidate linkage type. Variations can be made to this linkage as long as they do not interfere with binding or activity. For example, the oxygen attached to phosphorus may be substituted with sulfur (thiophosphorodiamidate). The 5′ oxygen may be substituted with amino or lower alkyl substituted amino. The pendant nitrogen attached to phosphorus may be unsubstituted, monosubstituted, or disubstituted with (optionally substituted) lower alkyl. The purine or pyrimidine base pairing moiety is typically adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil, thymine or inosine. The synthesis, structures, and binding characteristics of morpholino oligomers are detailed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,685, 5,217,866, 5,142,047, 5,034,506, 5,166,315, 5,521,063, 5,506,337, 8,076,476, 8,299,206 and 7,943,762 (cationic linkages), all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Modified intersubunit linkages and terminal groups are detailed in PCT application US2011/038459 and publication WO/2011/150408 which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

An “amino acid subunit” or “amino acid residue” can refer to an α-amino acid residue (—CO—CHR—NH—) or β- or other amino acid residue (e.g. —CO—(CH₂)_(n)CHR—NH—), where R is a side chain (which may include hydrogen) and n is 1 to 6, preferably 1 to 4.

The term “naturally occurring amino acid” refers to an amino acid present in proteins found in nature. The term “non-natural amino acids” refers to those amino acids not present in proteins found in nature, examples include beta-alanine (β-Ala), 6-aminohexanoic acid (Ahx) and 6-aminopentanoic acid.

An “exon” refers to a defined section of nucleic acid that encodes for a protein, or a nucleic acid sequence that is represented in the mature form of an RNA molecule after either portions of a pre-processed (or precursor) RNA have been removed by splicing. The mature RNA molecule can be a messenger RNA (mRNA) or a functional form of a non-coding RNA, such as rRNA or tRNA. The human dystrophin gene has about 79 exons.

An “intron” refers to a nucleic acid region (within a gene) that is not translated into a protein. An intron is a non-coding section that is transcribed into a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA), and subsequently removed by splicing during formation of the mature RNA.

An “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” refers to an amount of therapeutic compound, such as an antisense oligonucleotide, administered to a human subject, either as a single dose or as part of a series of doses, which is effective to produce a desired therapeutic effect. For an antisense oligonucleotide, this effect is typically brought about by inhibiting translation or natural splice-processing of a selected target sequence. In some embodiments, an effective amount is at least 20 mg/kg of a composition including an antisense oligonucleotide for a period of time to treat the subject. In one embodiment, an effective amount is at least 20 mg/kg of a composition including an antisense oligonucleotide to increase the number of dystrophin-positive fibers in a subject to at least 20% of normal. In another embodiment, an effective amount is at least 20 mg/kg of a composition including an antisense oligonucleotide to stabilize, maintain, or improve walking distance from a 20% deficit, for example in a 6 MWT, in a patient, relative to a healthy peer. In another embodiment, an effective amount is at least 20 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, about 25 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, or about 30 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg. In yet another embodiment, an effective amount is about 30 mg/kg or about 50 mg/kg. In another aspect, an effective amount is at least 20 mg/kg, about 25 mg/kg, about 30 mg/kg, or about 30 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, for at least 24 weeks, at least 36 weeks, or at least 48 weeks, to thereby increase the number of dystrophin-positive fibers in a subject to at least 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, about 95% of normal, and stabilize or improve walking distance from a 20% deficit, for example in a 6 MWT, in the patient relative to a healthy peer. In one embodiment, treatment increases the number of dystrophin-positive fibers to 20-60%, or 30-50% of normal in the patient.

“Exon skipping” refers generally to the process by which an entire exon, or a portion thereof, is removed from a given pre-processed RNA, and is thereby excluded from being present in the mature RNA, such as the mature mRNA that is translated into a protein. Hence, the portion of the protein that is otherwise encoded by the skipped exon is not present in the expressed form of the protein, typically creating an altered, though still functional, form of the protein. In certain embodiments, the exon being skipped is an aberrant exon from the human dystrophin gene, which may contain a mutation or other alteration in its sequence that otherwise causes aberrant splicing. In certain embodiments, the exon being skipped is any one or more of exons 1-79 of the human dystrophin gene, such as 3-8, 10-16, 19-40, 42-47, and 50-55, though exons 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 8 of the human dystrophin gene are preferred.

“Dystrophin” is a rod-shaped cytoplasmic protein, and a vital part of the protein complex that connects the cytoskeleton of a muscle fiber to the surrounding extracellular matrix through the cell membrane. Dystrophin contains multiple functional domains. For instance, dystrophin contains an actin binding domain at about amino acids 14-240 and a central rod domain at about amino acids 253-3040. This large central domain is formed by 24 spectrin-like triple-helical elements of about 109 amino acids, which have homology to alpha-actinin and spectrin. The repeats are typically interrupted by four proline-rich non-repeat segments, also referred to as hinge regions. Repeats 15 and 16 are separated by an 18 amino acid stretch that appears to provide a major site for proteolytic cleavage of dystrophin. The sequence identity between most repeats ranges from 10-25%. One repeat contains three alpha-helices: 1, 2 and 3. Alpha-helices 1 and 3 are each formed by 7 helix turns, probably interacting as a coiled-coil through a hydrophobic interface. Alpha-helix 2 has a more complex structure and is formed by segments of four and three helix turns, separated by a Glycine or Proline residue. Each repeat is encoded by two exons, typically interrupted by an intron between amino acids 47 and 48 in the first part of alpha-helix 2. The other intron is found at different positions in the repeat, usually scattered over helix-3. Dystrophin also contains a cysteine-rich domain at about amino acids 3080-3360), including a cysteine-rich segment (i.e., 15 Cysteines in 280 amino acids) showing homology to the C-terminal domain of the slime mold (Dictyostelium discoideum) alpha-actinin. The carboxy-terminal domain is at about amino acids 3361-3685.

The amino-terminus of dystrophin binds to F-actin and the carboxy-terminus binds to the dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPC) at the sarcolemma. The DAPC includes the dystroglycans, sarcoglycans, integrins and caveolin, and mutations in any of these components cause autosomally inherited muscular dystrophies. The DAPC is destabilized when dystrophin is absent, which results in diminished levels of the member proteins, and in turn leads to progressive fibre damage and membrane leakage. In various forms of muscular dystrophy, such as Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker's muscular dystrophy (BMD), muscle cells produce an altered and functionally defective form of dystrophin, or no dystrophin at all, mainly due to mutations in the gene sequence that lead to incorrect splicing. The predominant expression of the defective dystrophin protein, or the complete lack of dystrophin or a dystrophin-like protein, leads to rapid progression of muscle degeneration, as noted above. In this regard, a “defective” dystrophin protein may be characterized by the forms of dystrophin that are produced in certain subjects with DMD or BMD, as known in the art, or by the absence of detectable dystrophin.

As used herein, the terms “function” and “functional” and the like refer to a biological, enzymatic, or therapeutic function.

A “functional” dystrophin protein refers generally to a dystrophin protein having sufficient biological activity to reduce the progressive degradation of muscle tissue that is otherwise characteristic of muscular dystrophy, typically as compared to the altered or “defective” form of dystrophin protein that is present in certain subjects with DMD or BMD. In certain embodiments, a functional dystrophin protein may have about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% (including all integers in between) of the in vitro or in vivo biological activity of wild-type dystrophin, as measured according to routine techniques in the art. As one example, dystrophin-related activity in muscle cultures in vitro can be measured according to myotube size, myofibril organization (or disorganization), contractile activity, and spontaneous clustering of acetylcholine receptors (see, e.g., Brown et al., Journal of Cell Science. 112:209-216, 1999). Animal models are also valuable resources for studying the pathogenesis of disease, and provide a means to test dystrophin-related activity. Two of the most widely used animal models for DMD research are the mdx mouse and the golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) dog, both of which are dystrophin negative (see, e.g., Collins & Morgan, Int J Exp Pathol 84: 165-172; 2003). These and other animal models can be used to measure the functional activity of various dystrophin proteins. Included are truncated forms of dystrophin, such as those forms that are produced by certain of the exon-skipping antisense compounds of the present invention.

The term “restoration” of dystrophin synthesis or production refers generally to the production of a dystrophin protein including truncated forms of dystrophin in a patient with muscular dystrophy following treatment with an antisense oligonucleotide as described herein. In some embodiments, treatment results in an increase in novel dystrophin production in a patient by 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 100% (including all integers in between). In some embodiments, treatment increases the number of dystrophin-positive fibers to at least 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90% or about 95% to 100% of normal in the subject. In other embodiments, treatment increases the number of dystrophin-positive fibers to about 20% to about 60%, or about 30% to about 50% of normal in the subject. The percent of dystrophin-positive fibers in a patient following treatment can be determined by a muscle biopsy using known techniques. For example, a muscle biopsy may be taken from a suitable muscle, such as the biceps brachii muscle in a patient.

Analysis of the percentage of positive dystrophin fibers may be performed pre-treatment and/or post-treatment or at time points throughout the course of treatment. In some embodiments, a post-treatment biopsy is taken from the contralateral muscle from the pre-treatment biopsy. Pre- and post-treatment dystrophin expression studies may be performed using any suitable assay for dystrophin. In one embodiment, immunohistochemical detection is performed on tissue sections from the muscle biopsy using an antibody that is a marker for dystrophin, such as a monoclonal or a polyclonal antibody. For example, the MANDYS106 antibody can be used which is a highly sensitive marker for dystrophin. Any suitable secondary antibody may be used:

In some embodiments, the percent dystrophin-positive fibers are calculated by dividing the number of positive fibers by the total fibers counted. Normal muscle samples have 100% dystrophin-positive fibers. Therefore, the percent dystrophin-positive fibers can be expressed as a percentage of normal. To control for the presence of trace levels of dystrophin in the pretreatment muscle as well as revertant fibers a baseline can be set using sections of pre-treatment muscles from each patient when counting dystrophin-positive fibers in post-treatment muscles. This may be used as a threshold for counting dystrophin-positive fibers in sections of post-treatment muscle in that patient. In other embodiments, antibody-stained tissue sections can also be used for dystrophin quantification using Bioquant image analysis software (Bioquant Image Analysis Corporation, Nashville, Tenn.). The total dystrophin fluorescence signal intensity can be reported as a percentage of normal. In addition, Western blot analysis with monoclonal or polyclonal anti-dystrophin antibodies can be used to determine the percentage of dystrophin positive fibers. For example, the anti-dystrophin antibody NCL-Dys1 from Novacastra may be used. The percentage of dystrophin-positive fibers can also be analyzed by determining the expression of the components of the sarcoglycan complex (β,γ) and/or neuronal NOS.

By “isolated” is meant material that is substantially or essentially free from components that normally accompany it in its native state. For example, an “isolated polynucleotide,” as used herein, may refer to a polynucleotide that has been purified or removed from the sequences that flank it in a naturally-occurring state, e.g., a DNA fragment that has been removed from the sequences that are normally adjacent to the fragment.

As used herein, “sufficient length” refers to an antisense oligonucleotide that is complementary to at least 8, more typically 8-30, contiguous nucleobases in a target dystrophin pre-mRNA. In some embodiments, an antisense of sufficient length includes at least 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 contiguous nucleobases in the target dystrophin pre-mRNA. In other embodiments an antisense of sufficient length includes at least 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 contiguous nucleobases in the target dystrophin pre-mRNA. An antisense oligonucleotide of sufficient length has at least a minimal number of nucleotides to be capable of specifically hybridizing to any one or more of exons 1-79 of the dystrophin gene. Preferably, the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention has a minimal number of nucleotides to be capable of specifically hybridizing to any one or more of exons 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 or 8 of the human dystrophin gene. Preferably an oligonucleotide of sufficient length is from about 10 to about 50 nucleotides in length, including oligonucleotides of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 or more nucleotides. In one embodiment, an oligonucleotide of sufficient length is from 10 to about 30 nucleotides in length. In another embodiment, an oligonucleotide of sufficient length is from 15 to about 25 nucleotides in length. In yet another embodiment, an oligonucleotide of sufficient length is from 20 to 30, or 20 to 50, nucleotides in length. In yet another embodiment, an oligonucleotide of sufficient length is from 25 to 28 nucleotides in length.

By “enhance” or “enhancing,” or “increase” or “increasing,” or “stimulate” or “stimulating,” refers generally to the ability of one or antisense compounds or compositions to produce or cause a greater physiological response (i.e., downstream effects) in a cell or a subject, as compared to the response caused by either no antisense compound or a control compound. A measurable physiological response may include increased expression of a functional form of a dystrophin protein, or increased dystrophin-related biological activity in muscle tissue, among other responses apparent from the understanding in the art and the description herein. Increased muscle function can also be measured, including increases or improvements in muscle function by about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100%. The percentage of muscle fibers that express a functional dystrophin can also be measured, including increased dystrophin expression in about 1%, 2%, %, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100% of muscle fibers. For instance, it has been shown that around 40% of muscle function improvement can occur if 25-30% of fibers express dystrophin (see, e.g., DelloRusso et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99: 12979-12984, 2002). An “increased” or “enhanced” amount is typically a “statistically significant” amount, and may include an increase that is 1.1, 1.2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15; 20, 30, 40, 50 or more times (e.g., 500, 1000 times) (including all integers and decimal points in between and above 1), e.g., 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, etc.) the amount produced by no antisense compound (the absence of an agent) or a control compound.

The term “reduce” or “inhibit” may relate generally to the ability of one or more antisense compounds of the invention to “decrease” a relevant physiological or cellular response, such as a symptom of a disease or condition described herein, as measured according to routine techniques in the diagnostic art. Relevant physiological or cellular responses (in vivo or in vitro) will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, and may include reductions in the symptoms or pathology of muscular dystrophy, or reductions in the expression of defective forms of dystrophin, such as the altered forms of dystrophin that are expressed in individuals with DMD or BMD. A “decrease” in a response may be statistically significant as compared to the response produced by no antisense compound or a control composition, and may include a 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100% decrease, including all integers in between.

Also included are vector delivery systems that are capable of expressing the oligomeric, dystrophin-targeting sequences of the present invention, such as vectors that express a polynucleotide sequence comprising any one or more of the sequences shown in Tables 3 and 4, and variants thereof, as described herein. By “vector” or “nucleic acid construct” is meant a polynucleotide molecule, preferably a DNA molecule derived, for example, from a plasmid, bacteriophage, yeast or virus, into which a polynucleotide can be inserted or cloned. A vector preferably contains one or more unique restriction sites and can be capable of autonomous replication in a defined host cell including a target cell or tissue or a progenitor cell or tissue thereof, or be integrated with the genome of the defined host such that the cloned sequence is reproducible. Accordingly, the vector can be an autonomously replicating vector, i.e., a vector that exists as an extra-chromosomal entity, the replication of which is independent of chromosomal replication, e.g., a linear or closed circular plasmid, an extra-chromosomal element, a mini-chromosome, or an artificial chromosome. The vector can contain any means for assuring self-replication. Alternatively, the vector can be one which, when introduced into the host cell, is integrated into the genome and replicated together with the chromosome(s) into which it has been integrated.

“Treatment” of an individual (e.g. a mammal, such as a human) or a cell is any type of intervention used in an attempt to alter the natural course of the individual or cell. Treatment includes, but is not limited to, administration of a pharmaceutical composition, and may be performed either prophylactically or subsequent to the initiation of a pathologic event or contact with an etiologic agent. Treatment includes any desirable effect on the symptoms or pathology of a disease or condition associated with the dystrophin protein, as in certain forms of muscular dystrophy, and may include, for example, minimal changes or improvements in one or more measurable markers of the disease or condition being treated. Also included are “prophylactic” treatments, which can be directed to reducing the rate of progression of the disease or condition being treated, delaying the onset of that disease or condition, or reducing the severity of its onset. “Treatment” or “prophylaxis” does not necessarily indicate complete eradication, cure, or prevention of the disease or condition, or associated symptoms thereof.

In one embodiment, treatment with an antisense oligonucleotide of the invention increases novel dystrophin production and slows or reduces the loss of ambulation that would be expected without treatment. For example, treatment may stabilize, maintain, improve or increase walking ability (e.g., stabilization of ambulation) in the subject. In some embodiments, treatment maintains or increases a stable walking distance in a patient, as measured by, for example, the 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), described by McDonald, et al. (Muscle Nerve, 2010; 42:966-74, herein incorporated by reference). A change in the 6 Minute Walk Distance (6MWD) may be expressed as an absolute value, a percentage change or a change in the %-predicted value. In some embodiments, treatment maintains or improves a stable walking distance in a 6MWT from a 20% deficit in the subject relative to a healthy peer. The performance of a DMD patient in the 6MWT relative to the typical performance of a healthy peer can be determined by calculating a %-predicted value. For example, the %-predicted 6MWD may be calculated using the following equation for males: 196.72+(39.81×age)−(1.36×age²)+(132.28×height in meters). For females, the %-predicted 6MWD may be calculated using the following equation: 188.61+(51.50×age)−(1.86×age²)+(86.10×height in meters) (Henricson et al. PLoS Curr., 2012, version 2, herein incorporated by reference). In some embodiments, treatment with an antisense oligonucleotide increases the stable walking distance in the patient from baseline to greater than 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or 50 meters (including all integers in between).

Loss of muscle function in patients with DMD may occur against the background of normal childhood growth and development. Indeed, younger children with DMD may show an increase in distance walked during 6MWT over the course of about 1 year despite progressive muscular impairment. In some embodiments, the 6MWD from patients with DMD is compared to typically developing control subjects and to existing normative data from age and sex matched subjects. In some embodiments, normal growth and development can be accounted for using an age and height based equation fitted to normative data. Such an equation can be used to convert 6MWD to a percent-predicted (%-predicted) value in subjects with DMD. In certain embodiments, analysis of %-predicted 6MWD data represents a method to account for normal growth and development, and may show that gains in function at early ages (e.g., less than or equal to age 7) represent stable rather than improving abilities in patients with DMD (Henricson et al. PLoS Curr., 2012, version 2, herein incorporated by reference).

A “subject,” as used herein, includes any animal that exhibits a symptom, or is at risk for exhibiting a symptom, which can be treated with an antisense compound of the invention, such as a subject that has or is at risk for having DMD or BMD, or any of the symptoms associated with these conditions (e.g., muscle fibre loss). Suitable subjects (patients) include laboratory animals (such as mouse, rat, rabbit, or guinea pig), farm animals, and domestic animals or pets (such as a cat or dog). Non-human primates and, preferably, human patients, are included.

“Alkyl” or “alkylene” both refer to a saturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 18 carbons. Examples include without limitation methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl and n-hexyl. The term “lower alkyl” refers to an alkyl group, as defined herein, containing between 1 and 8 carbons.

“Alkenyl” refers to an unsaturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical containing from 2 to 18 carbons and comprising at least one carbon to carbon double bond. Examples include without limitation ethenyl, propenyl, iso-propenyl, butenyl, iso-butenyl, tert-butenyl, n-pentenyl and n-hexenyl. The term “lower alkenyl” refers to an alkenyl group, as defined herein, containing between 2 and 8 carbons.

“Alkynyl” refers to an unsaturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical containing from 2 to 18 carbons comprising at least one carbon to carbon triple bond. Examples include without limitation ethynyl, propynyl, iso-propynyl, butynyl, iso-butynyl, tert-butynyl, pentynyl and hexynyl. The term “lower alkynyl” refers to an alkynyl group, as define herein, containing between 2 and 8 carbons.

“Cycloalkyl” refers to a mono- or poly-cyclic alkyl radical. Examples include without limitation cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl.

“Aryl” refers to a cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon moiety containing from to 18 carbons having one or more closed ring(s). Examples include without limitation phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, phenanthracenyl and biphenyl.

“Aralkyl” refers to a radical of the formula RaRb where Ra is an alkylene chain as defined above and Rb is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example, benzyl, diphenylmethyl and the like.

“Thioalkoxy” refers to a radical of the formula —SRc where Rc is an alkyl radical as defined herein. The term “lower thioalkoxy” refers to an alkoxy group, as defined herein, containing between 1 and 8 carbons.

“Alkoxy” refers to a radical of the formula —ORda where Rd is an alkyl radical as defined herein. The term “lower alkoxy” refers to an alkoxy group, as defined herein, containing between 1 and 8 carbons. Examples of alkoxy groups include, without limitation, methoxy and ethoxy.

“Alkoxyalkyl” refers to an alkyl group substituted with an alkoxy group.

“Carbonyl” refers to the C(═O)— radical.

“Guanidynyl” refers to the H₂N(C═NH₂)—NH— radical.

“Amidinyl” refers to the H₂N(C═NH₂)CH— radical.

“Amino” refers to the NH₂ radical.

“Alkylamino” refers to a radical of the formula —NHRd or —NRdRd where each Rd is, independently, an alkyl radical as defined herein. The term “lower alkylamino” refers to an alkylamino group, as defined herein, containing between 1 and 8 carbons.

“Heterocycle” means a 5- to 7-membered monocyclic, or 7- to 10-membered bicyclic, heterocyclic ring which is either saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, and which contains from 1 to 4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and wherein the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms may be optionally oxidized, and the nitrogen heteroatom may be optionally quaternized, including bicyclic rings in which any of the above heterocycles are fused to a benzene ring. The heterocycle may be attached via any heteroatom or carbon atom. Heterocycles include heteroaryls as defined below. Thus, in addition to the heteroaryls listed below, heterocycles also include morpholinyl, pyrrolidinonyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperizinyl, hydantoinyl, valerolactamyl, oxiranyl, oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydropyridinyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, tetrahydropyrimidinyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, and the like.

“Heteroaryl” means an aromatic heterocycle ring of 5- to 10 members and having at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and containing at least 1 carbon atom, including both mono- and bicyclic ring systems. Representative heteroaryls are pyridyl, furyl, benzofuranyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl, quinolinyl, pyrrolyl, indolyl, oxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, thiazolyl, benzothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyrazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, and quinazolinyl.

The terms “optionally substituted alkyl”, “optionally substituted alkenyl”, “optionally substituted alkoxy”, “optionally substituted thioalkoxy”, “optionally substituted alkyl amino”, “optionally substituted lower alkyl”, “optionally substituted lower alkenyl”, “optionally substituted lower alkoxy”, “optionally substituted lower thioalkoxy”, “optionally substituted lower alkyl amino” and “optionally substituted heterocyclyl” mean that, when substituted, at least one hydrogen atom is replaced with a substituent. In the case of an oxo substituent (═O) two hydrogen atoms are replaced. In this regard, substituents include: deuterium, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heterocycle, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, oxo, halogen, —CN, —ORx, NRxRy, NRxC(═O)Ry, NRxSO2Ry, —NRxC(═O)NRxRy, C(═O)Rx, C(═O)ORx, C(═O)NRxRy, —SOmRx and —SOmNRxRy, wherein m is 0, 1 or 2, Rx and Ry are the same or different and independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heterocycle or optionally substituted cycloalkyl and each of said optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heterocycle and optionally substituted cycloalkyl substituents may be further substituted with one or more of oxo, halogen, —CN, —ORx, NRxRy, NRxC(═O)Ry, NRxSO2Ry, —NRxC(═O)NRxRy, C(═O)Rx, C(═O)ORx, C(═O)NRxRy, —SOmRx and —SOmNRxRy.

An antisense molecule nomenclature system was proposed and published to distinguish between the different antisense molecules (see Mann et al., (2002) J Gen Med 4, 644-654). This nomenclature became especially relevant when testing several slightly different antisense molecules, all directed at the same target region, as shown below:

H#A/D(x:y).

The first letter designates the species (e.g. H: human, M: murine, C: canine). “#” designates target dystrophin exon number. “A/D” indicates acceptor or donor splice site at the beginning and end of the exon, respectively. (x y) represents the annealing coordinates where “−” or “+” indicate intronic or exonic sequences respectively. For example, A(−6+18) would indicate the last 6 bases of the intron preceding the target exon and the first 18 bases of the target exon. The closest splice site would be the acceptor so these coordinates would be preceded with an “A”. Describing annealing coordinates at the donor splice site could be D(+2-18) where the last 2 exonic bases and the first 18 intronic bases correspond to the annealing site of the antisense molecule. Entirely exonic annealing coordinates that would be represented by A(+65+85), that is the site between the 65th and 85th nucleotide from the start of that exon.

II. CONSTRUCTING THE ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to morpholino oligonucleotides having phosphorus-containing backbone linkages are illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C. Preferred is a phosphorodiamidate-linked morpholino oligonucleotide such as shown in FIG. 1C, which is modified, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, to contain positively charged groups at preferably 10%-50% of its backbone linkages. Morpholino oligonucleotides with uncharged backbone linkages, including antisense oligonucleotides, are detailed, for example, in (Summerton and Weller 1997) and in co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,685, 5,217,866, 5,142,047, 5,034,506, 5,166,315, 5,185, 444, 5,521,063, 5,506,337, 8,076,476, 8,299,206 and 7,943,762 all of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Important properties of the morpholino-based subunits include: 1) the ability to be linked in a oligomeric form by stable, uncharged or positively charged backbone linkages; 2) the ability to support a nucleotide base (e.g. adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymidine, uracil and inosine) such that the polymer formed can hybridize with a complementary-base target nucleic acid, including target RNA, Tm values above about 45° C. in relatively short oligonucleotides (e.g., 10-15 bases); 3) the ability of the oligonucleotide to be actively or passively transported into mammalian cells; and 4) the ability of the antisense oligonucleotide:RNA heteroduplex to resist RNAse and RNase H degradation, respectively.

Exemplary backbone structures for antisense oligonucleotides of the claimed subject matter include the morpholino subunit types shown in FIGS. 1D-G, each linked by an uncharged or positively charged, phosphorus-containing subunit linkage. FIG. 1D shows a phosphorus-containing linkage which forms the five atom repeating-unit backbone, where the morpholino rings are linked by a 1-atom phosphoamide linkage. FIG. 1E shows a linkage which produces a 6-atom repeating-unit backbone. In this structure, the atom Y linking the 5′ morpholino carbon to the phosphorus group may be sulfur, nitrogen, carbon or, preferably, oxygen. The X moiety pendant from the phosphorus may be fluorine, an alkyl or substituted alkyl, an alkoxy or substituted alkoxy, a thioalkoxy or substituted thioalkoxy, or unsubstituted, monosubstituted, or disubstituted nitrogen, including cyclic structures, such as morpholines or piperidines. Alkyl, alkoxy and thioalkoxy preferably include 1-6 carbon atoms. The Z moieties are sulfur or oxygen, and are preferably oxygen.

The linkages shown in FIGS. 1F and 1G are designed for 7-atom unit-length backbones. In structure 1F, the X moiety is as in Structure 1E, and the Y moiety may be methylene, sulfur, or, preferably, oxygen. In Structure 1G, the X and Y moieties are as in Structure 1E. Particularly preferred morpholino oligonucleotides include those composed of morpholino subunit structures of the form shown in FIG. 1E, where X=NH₂, N(CH₃)₂, or 1-piperazine or other charged group, Y=O, and Z=O.

A substantially uncharged oligonucleotide may be modified, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, to include charged linkages, e.g., up to about 1 per every 2-5 uncharged linkages, such as about 4-5 per every 10 uncharged linkages. In certain embodiments, optimal improvement in antisense activity may be seen when about 25% of the backbone linkages are cationic. In certain embodiments, enhancement may be seen with a small number e.g., 10-20% cationic linkages, or where the number of cationic linkages are in the range 50-80%, such as about 60%.

Oligomers having any number of cationic linkages are provided, including fully cationic-linked oligomers. Preferably, however, the oligomers are partially charged, having, for example, 10%-80%. In preferred embodiments, about 10% to 60%, and preferably 20% to 50% of the linkages are cationic.

In one embodiment, the cationic linkages are interspersed along the backbone. The partially charged oligomers preferably contain at least two consecutive uncharged linkages; that is, the oligomer preferably does not have a strictly alternating pattern along its entire length.

Also considered are oligomers having blocks of cationic linkages and blocks of uncharged linkages; for example, a central block of uncharged linkages may be flanked by blocks of cationic linkages, or vice versa. In one embodiment, the oligomer has approximately equal-length 5′, 3′ and center regions, and the percentage of cationic linkages in the center region is greater than about 50%, preferably greater than about 70%.

In certain embodiments, the antisense compounds can be prepared by stepwise solid-phase synthesis, employing methods detailed in the references cited above, and below with respect to the synthesis of oligonucleotides having a mixture or uncharged and cationic backbone linkages. In some cases, it may be desirable to add additional chemical moieties to the antisense compound, e.g., to enhance pharmacokinetics or to facilitate capture or detection of the compound. Such a moiety may be covalently attached, according to standard synthetic methods. For example, addition of a polyethylene glycol moiety or other hydrophilic polymer, e.g., one having 1-100 monomeric subunits, may be useful in enhancing solubility.

A reporter moiety, such as fluorescein or a radiolabeled group, may be attached for purposes of detection. Alternatively, the reporter label attached to the oligomer may be a ligand, such as an antigen or biotin, capable of binding a labeled antibody or streptavidin. In selecting a moiety for attachment or modification of an antisense compound, it is generally of course desirable to select chemical compounds of groups that are biocompatible and likely to be tolerated by a subject without undesirable side effects.

Oligomers for use in antisense applications generally range in length from about 10 to about 50 subunits, more preferably about 10 to 30 subunits, and typically 15-25 bases. For example, an oligomer of the invention having 19-20 subunits, a useful length for an antisense compound, may ideally have two to ten, e.g., four to eight, cationic linkages, and the remainder uncharged linkages. An oligomer having 14-15 subunits may ideally have two to seven, e.g., 3, 4, or 5, cationic linkages and the remainder uncharged linkages. In a preferred embodiment, the oligomers have 25 to 28 subunits.

Each morpholino ring structure supports a base pairing moiety, to form a sequence of base pairing moieties which is typically designed to hybridize to a selected antisense target in a cell or in a subject being treated. The base pairing moiety may be a purine or pyrimidine found in native DNA or RNA (e.g., A, G, C, T or U) or an analog, such as hypoxanthine (the base component of the nucleoside inosine) or 5-methyl cytosine.

As noted above, certain embodiments are directed to oligomers comprising novel intersubunit linkages, including PMO-X oligomers and those having modified terminal groups. In some embodiments, these oligomers have higher affinity for DNA and RNA than do the corresponding unmodified oligomers and demonstrate improved cell delivery, potency, and/or tissue distribution properties compared to oligomers having other intersubunit linkages. The structural features and properties of the various linkage types and oligomers are described in more detail in the following discussion. The synthesis of these and related oligomers is described in co-owned U.S. application Ser. No. 13/118,298, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides for an oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to the target sequence which is associated with a human disease, and comprises a sequence of nucleotides having a formula:

wherein Nu is a nucleobase;

R₁ has the formula

q is 0, 1, or 2;

R₂ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₅ alkyl, C₁-C₅ aralkyl, and a formamidinyl group, and

R₃ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₀ acyl, C₁-C₁₀ aminoacyl, acyl moiety of a natural or unnatural alpha or beta amino acid, C₁-C₁₀ aralkyl, and C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, or

R₂ and R₃ are joined to form a 5-7 membered ring where the ring may be optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, phenyl, halogen, and C₁-C₁₀ aralkyl;

R₄ is selected from the group consisting of an electron pair, hydrogen, a C₁-C₆ alkyl and C₁-C₆ aralkyl;

Rx is selected from the group consisting of sarcosinamide, hydroxyl, a nucleotide, a cell penetrating peptide moiety, and piperazinyl;

Ry is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C₁-C₆ alkyl, a nucleotide a cell penetrating peptide moiety, an amino acid, a formamidinyl group, and C₁-C₆ acyl; and,

Rz is selected from the group consisting of an electron pair, hydrogen, a C₁-C₆ alkyl, and C₁-C₆ acyl pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Nu may be selected from the group consisting of adenine, guanine, thymine, uracil, cytosine, and hypoxanthine. More preferably Nu is thymine or uracil.

In preferred embodiments, the invention provides an oligonucleotide having a sequence of nucleotides having a formula:

wherein Nu is a nucleobase;

R₁ is selected from the group consisting of R₁′ and R₁″ wherein R₁′ is dimethylamino and R₁″ has the formula

wherein at least one R₁ is R₁″;

q is 0, 1, or 2; with the proviso that at least one of R₁ is a piperidinyl moiety;

R₂ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₅ alkyl, C₁-C₅ aralkyl, and a formamidinyl group, and

R₃ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₀ acyl, C₁-C₁₀ aminoacyl, acyl moiety of a natural or unnatural alpha or beta amino acid, C₁-C₁₀ aralkyl, and C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, or

R₂ and R₃ are joined to form a 5-7 membered ring where the ring may be optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, phenyl, halogen, and C₁-C₁₀ aralkyl;

R₄ is selected from the group consisting of an electron pair, hydrogen, a C₁-C₆ alkyl and aralkyl;

Rx is selected from the group consisting of sarcosinamide, hydroxyl, a nucleotide, a cell penetrating peptide moiety, and piperazinyl;

Ry is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C₁-C₆ alkyl, a nucleotide a cell penetrating peptide moiety, an amino acid, a formamidinyl group, and C₁-C₆ acyl; and,

Rz is selected from the group consisting of an electron pair, hydrogen, a C₁-C₆ alkyl, and C₁-C₆ acyl pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Nu may be selected from the group consisting of adenine, guanine, thymine, uracil, cytosine, and hypoxanthine. More preferably Nu is thymine or uracil.

About 90-50% of the R₁ groups are dimethylamino (i.e. R₁′). More, preferably, 90-50% of the R₁ groups are dimethylamino. Most, preferably about 66% of the R₁ groups are dimethylamino.

R₁″ may be selected from the group consisting of

Preferably, at least one nucleotide of the oligonucleotide has the formula:

wherein Rx, Ry, Rz, and Nu are as stated above. Most preferably, Nu is thymine or uracil.

Although thymine (T) is the preferred base pairing moiety (Nu or Pi) containing the chemical modifications described above, any base subunit known to a person of skill in the art can be used as the base pairing moiety.

The oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are complementary to each other when a sufficient number of corresponding positions in each molecule are occupied by nucleotides which can hydrogen bond with each other. Thus, “specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are used to indicate a sufficient degree of complementarity or precise pairing such that stable and specific binding occurs between the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA target. It is understood in the art that the sequence of an antisense molecule need not be 100% complementary to that of its target sequence to be specifically hybridizable. An antisense molecule is specifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target DNA or RNA molecule interferes with the normal function of the target DNA or RNA to cause a loss of utility, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays or therapeutic treatment, and in the case of in vitro assays, under conditions in which the assays are performed.

While the above method may be used to select antisense molecules capable of deleting any exon from within a protein that is capable of being shortened without affecting its biological function, the exon deletion should not lead to a reading frame shift in the shortened transcribed mRNA. Thus, if in a linear sequence of three exons the end of the first exon encodes two of three nucleotides in a codon and the next exon is deleted then the third exon in the linear sequence must start with a single nucleotide that is capable of completing the nucleotide triplet for a codon. If the third exon does not commence with a single nucleotide there will be a reading frame shift that would lead to the generation of truncated or a non-functional protein.

It will be appreciated that the codon arrangements at the end of exons in structural proteins may not always break at the end of a codon, consequently there may be a need to delete more than one exon from the pre-mRNA to ensure in-frame reading of the mRNA. In such circumstances, a plurality of antisense oligonucleotides may need to be selected by the method of the invention wherein each is directed to a different region responsible for inducing splicing in the exons that are to be deleted.

The length of an antisense molecule may vary so long as it is capable of binding selectively to the intended location within the pre-mRNA molecule. The length of such sequences can be determined in accordance with selection procedures described herein. Generally, the antisense molecule will be from about 10 nucleotides in length up to about 50 nucleotides in length. It will be appreciated however that any length of nucleotides within this range may be used in the method. Preferably, the length of the antisense molecule is between 10-30 nucleotides in length.

The most common method for producing antisense molecules is the methylation of the 2′ hydroxyribose position and the incorporation of a phosphorothioate backbone produces molecules that superficially resemble RNA but that are much more resistant to nuclease degradation.

To avoid degradation of pre-mRNA during duplex formation with the antisense molecules, the antisense molecules used in the method may be adapted to minimize or prevent cleavage by endogenous RNase H. This property is highly preferred as the treatment of the RNA with the unmethylated oligonucleotides either intracellularly or in crude extracts that contain RNase H leads to degradation of the pre-mRNA: antisense oligonucleotide duplexes. Any form of modified antisense molecules that is capable of by-passing or not inducing such degradation may be used in the present method. An example of antisense molecules which when duplexed with RNA are not cleaved by cellular RNase H is 2′-O-methyl derivatives. 2′-O-methyl-oligoribonucleotides are very stable in a cellular environment and in animal tissues, and their duplexes with RNA have higher Tm values than their ribo- or deoxyribo-counterparts.

Antisense molecules that do not activate RNase H can be made in accordance with known techniques (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,797). Such antisense molecules, which may be deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide sequences, simply contain any structural modification which sterically hinders or prevents binding of RNase H to a duplex molecule containing the oligonucleotide as one member thereof, which structural modification does not substantially hinder or disrupt duplex formation. Because the portions of the oligonucleotide involved in duplex formation are substantially different from those portions involved in RNase H binding thereto, numerous antisense molecules that do not activate RNase H are available. For example, such antisense molecules may be oligonucleotides wherein at least one, or all, of the inter-nucleotide bridging phosphate residues are modified phosphates, such as methyl phosphonates, methyl phosphorothioates, phosphoromorpholidates, phosphoropiperazidates and phosphoramidates. For example, every other one of the internucleotide bridging phosphate residues may be modified as described. In another non-limiting example, such antisense molecules are molecules wherein at least one, or all, of the nucleotides contain a 2′ lower alkyl moiety (e.g., C₁-C₄, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, ethenyl, propyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, and isopropyl). For example, every other one of the nucleotides may be modified as described.

While antisense oligonucleotides are a preferred form of the antisense molecules, the present invention comprehends other oligomeric antisense molecules, including but not limited to oligonucleotide mimetics such as are described below.

Specific examples of preferred antisense compounds useful in this invention include oligonucleotides containing modified backbones or non-natural inter-nucleoside linkages. As defined in this specification, oligonucleotides having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone. For the purposes of this specification, and as sometimes referenced in the art, modified oligonucleotides that do not have a phosphorus atom in their inter-nucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides.

In other preferred oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and the inter-nucleoside linkage, i.e., the backbone, of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups. The base units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound. One such oligomeric compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of an oligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleo-bases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone.

Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties. Oligonucleotides may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. Certain nucleo-bases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the oligomeric compounds of the invention. These include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. and are presently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications.

Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involves chemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties or conjugates that enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. Such moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety, cholic acid, a thioether, e.g., hexyl-5-tritylthiol, a thiocholesterol, an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues, a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate, a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain, or adamantane acetic acid, a palmityl moiety, or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety.

It is not necessary for all positions in a given compound to be uniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementioned modifications may be incorporated in a single compound or even at a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide. The present invention also includes antisense compounds that are chimeric compounds. “Chimeric” antisense compounds or “chimeras,” in the context of this invention, are antisense molecules, particularly oligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide in the case of an oligonucleotide compound. These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide is modified so as to confer upon the increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, and an additional region for increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid.

III. PEPTIDE TRANSPORTERS

The antisense compounds of the invention may include an oligonucleotide moiety conjugated to a CPP, preferably an arginine-rich peptide transport moiety effective to enhance transport of the compound into cells. The transport moiety is preferably attached to a terminus of the oligomer, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1B and 1C. The peptides have the capability of inducing cell penetration within 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 100% of cells of a given cell culture population, including all integers in between, and allow macromolecular translocation within multiple tissues in vivo upon systemic administration. In one embodiment, the cell-penetrating peptide may be an arginine-rich peptide transporter. In another embodiment, the cell-penetrating peptide may be Penetratin or the Tat peptide. These peptides are well known in the art and are disclosed, for example, in US Publication No. 2010-0016215 A1, incorporated by reference in its entirety. A particularly preferred approach to conjugation of peptides to antisense oligonucleotides can be found in PCT publication WO2012/150960, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. A preferred embodiment of a peptide conjugated oligonucleotide of the present invention utilizes glycine as the linker between the CPP and the antisense oligonucleotide. For example, a preferred peptide conjugated PMO consists of R₆-G-PMO.

The transport moieties as described above have been shown to greatly enhance cell entry of attached oligomers, relative to uptake of the oligomer in the absence of the attached transport moiety. Uptake is preferably enhanced at least ten fold, and more preferably twenty fold, relative to the unconjugated compound.

The use of arginine-rich peptide transporters (i.e., cell-penetrating peptides) are particularly useful in practicing the present invention. Certain peptide transporters have been shown to be highly effective at delivery of antisense compounds into primary cells including muscle cells (Marshall, Oda et al. 2007; Jearawiriyapaisarn, Moulton et al. 2008; Wu, Moulton et al. 2008). Furthermore, compared to other known peptide transporters such as Penetratin and the Tat peptide, the peptide transporters described herein, when conjugated to an antisense PMO, demonstrate an enhanced ability to alter splicing of several gene transcripts (Marshall, Oda et al. 2007).

Exemplary peptide transporters, excluding linkers are given below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Exemplary peptide transporters NAME SEQ ID (DESIGNATION) SEQUENCE NO^(A) rTAT RRRQRRKKR 876 Tat RKKRRQRRR 877 R₉F₂ RRRRRRRRRFF 878 R₅F₂R₄ RRRRRFFRRRR 879 R₄ RRRR 880 R₅ RRRRR 881 R₆ RRRRRR 882 R₇ RRRRRRR 883 R₈ RRRRRRRR 884 R₉ RRRRRRRRR 885 (RX)₈ RXRXRXRXRXRXRXRX 886 (RAhxR)₄; (P007) RAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxR 887 (RAhxR)₅; (CP04057) RAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxR 888 (RAhxRRBR)₂; (CP06062) RAhxRRBRRAhxRRBR 889 (RAR)₄F₂ RARRARRARRARFF 890 (RGR)₄F₂ RGRRGRRGRRGRFF 891 ^(A)Sequences assigned to SEQ ID NOs do not include the linkage portion (e.g., C, G, P, Ahx, B, AhxB where Ahx and B refer to 6-aminohexanoic acid and beta-alanine, respectively).

IV. FORMULATIONS AND TREATMENT

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides formulations or compositions suitable for the therapeutic delivery of antisense oligomers, as described herein. Hence, in certain embodiments, the present invention provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions that comprise a therapeutically-effective amount of one or more of the oligomers described herein, formulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers (additives) and/or diluents. While it is possible for an oligomer of the present invention to be administered alone, it is preferable to administer the compound as a pharmaceutical formulation (composition).

The compositions of the present invention may be administered alone or in combination with another therapeutic. The additional therapeutic may be administered prior, concurrently or subsequently to the administration of the composition of the present invention. For example, the compositions may be administered in combination with a steroid and/or an antibiotic. The steroid may be a glucocorticoid or prednisone. Other agents which can be administered include an antagonist of the ryanodine receptor, such as dantrolene, which has been shown to enhance antisense-mediated exon skipping in patient cells and a mouse model of DMD (G. Kendall et al. Sci Tranl Med 4 164ra160 (2012), incorporated herein by reference).

Methods for the delivery of nucleic acid molecules are described, for example, in Akhtar et al., 1992, Trends Cell Bio., 2:139; and Delivery Strategies for Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapeutics, ed. Akhtar; Sullivan et al., PCT WO 94/02595. These and other protocols can be utilized for the delivery of virtually any nucleic acid molecule, including the isolated oligomers of the present invention.

As detailed below, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be specially formulated for administration in solid or liquid form, including those adapted for the following: (1) oral administration, for example, drenches (aqueous or non-aqueous solutions or suspensions), tablets, e.g., those targeted for buccal, sublingual, and systemic absorption, boluses, powders, granules, pastes for application to the tongue; (2) parenteral administration, for example, by subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or epidural injection as, for example, a sterile solution or suspension, or sustained-release formulation; (3) topical application, for example, as a cream, ointment, or a controlled-release patch or spray applied to the skin; (4) intravaginally or intrarectally, for example, as a pessary, cream or foam; (5) sublingually; (6) ocularly; (7) transdermally; or (8) nasally.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” is employed herein to refer to those compounds, materials, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.

The phrase “pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier” as used herein means a pharmaceutically-acceptable material, composition or vehicle, such as a liquid or solid filler, diluent, excipient, manufacturing aid (e.g., lubricant, talc magnesium, calcium or zinc stearate, or steric acid), or solvent encapsulating material, involved in carrying or transporting the subject compound from one organ, or portion of the body, to another organ, or portion of the body. Each carrier must be “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not injurious to the patient.

Some examples of materials that can serve as pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers include, without limitation: (1) sugars, such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; (2) starches, such as corn starch and potato starch; (3) cellulose, and its derivatives, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; (4) powdered tragacanth; (5) malt; (6) gelatin; (7) talc; (8) excipients, such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; (9) oils, such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; (10) glycols, such as propylene glycol; (11) polyols, such as glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; (12) esters, such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; (13) agar; (14) buffering agents, such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; (15) alginic acid; (16) pyrogen-free water; (17) isotonic saline; (18) Ringer's solution; (19) ethyl alcohol; (20) pH buffered solutions; (21) polyesters, polycarbonates and/or polyanhydrides; and (22) other non-toxic compatible substances employed in pharmaceutical formulations.

Additional non-limiting examples of agents suitable for formulation with the antisense oligomers of the instant invention include: PEG conjugated nucleic acids, phospholipid conjugated nucleic acids, nucleic acids containing lipophilic moieties, phosphorothioates, P-glycoprotein inhibitors (such as Pluronic P85) which can enhance entry of drugs into various tissues; biodegradable polymers, such as poly (DL-lactide-coglycolide) microspheres for sustained release delivery after implantation (Emerich, D F et al., 1999, Cell Transplant, 8, 47-58) Alkermes, Inc. Cambridge, Mass.; and loaded nanoparticles, such as those made of polyhutylcyanoacrylate, which can deliver drugs across the blood brain barrier and can alter neuronal uptake mechanisms (Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, 23, 941-949, 1999).

The invention also features the use of the composition comprising surface-modified liposomes containing poly (ethylene glycol) lipids (PEG-modified, branched and unbranched or combinations thereof, or long-circulating liposomes or stealth liposomes). Oligomers of the invention can also comprise covalently attached PEG molecules of various molecular weights. These formulations offer a method for increasing the accumulation of drugs in target tissues. This class of drug carriers resists opsonization and elimination by the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS or RES), thereby enabling longer blood circulation times and enhanced tissue exposure for the encapsulated drug (Lasic et al. Chem. Rev. 1995, 95, 2601-2627; Ishiwata et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1995, 43, 1005-1011). Such liposomes have been shown to accumulate selectively in tumors, presumably by extravasation and capture in the neovascularized target tissues (Lasic et al., Science 1995, 267, 1275-1276; Oku et al., 1995, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1238, 86-90). The long-circulating liposomes enhance the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of DNA and RNA, particularly compared to conventional cationic liposomes which are known to accumulate in tissues of the MPS (Liu et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1995, 42, 24864-24870; Choi et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 96/10391; Ansell et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 96/10390; Holland et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 96/10392). Long-circulating liposomes are also likely to protect drugs from nuclease degradation to a greater extent compared to cationic liposomes, based on their ability to avoid accumulation in metabolically aggressive MPS tissues such as the liver and spleen.

In a further embodiment, the present invention includes oligomer compositions prepared for delivery as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,692,911, 7,163,695 and 7,070,807. In this regard, in one embodiment, the present invention provides an oligomer of the present invention in a composition comprising copolymers of lysine and histidine (HK) (as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,163,695, 7,070,807, and 6,692,911) either alone or in combination with PEG (e.g., branched or unbranched PEG or a mixture of both), in combination with PEG and a targeting moiety or any of the foregoing in combination with a crosslinking agent. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides antisense oligomers in compositions comprising gluconic-acid-modified polyhistidine or gluconylated-polyhistidine/transferrin-polylysine. One skilled in the art will also recognize that amino acids with properties similar to His and Lys may be substituted within the composition.

Certain embodiments of the oligomers described herein may contain a basic functional group, such as amino or alkylamino, and are, thus, capable of forming pharmaceutically-acceptable salts with pharmaceutically-acceptable acids. The term “pharmaceutically-acceptable salts” in this respect, refers to the relatively non-toxic, inorganic and organic acid addition salts of compounds of the present invention. These salts can be prepared in situ in the administration vehicle or the dosage form manufacturing process, or by separately reacting a purified compound of the invention in its free base form with a suitable organic or inorganic acid, and isolating the salt thus formed during subsequent purification. Representative salts include the hydrobromide, hydrochloride, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, nitrate, acetate, valerate, oleate, palmitate, stearate, laurate, benzoate, lactate, phosphate, tosylate, citrate, maleate, fumarate, succinate, tartrate, napthylate, mesylate, glucoheptonate, lactobionate, and laurylsulphonate salts and the like. (See, e.g., Berge et al. (1977) “Pharmaceutical Salts”, J. Pharm. Sci. 66:1-19).

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the subject oligomers include the conventional nontoxic salts or quaternary ammonium salts of the compounds, e.g., from non-toxic organic or inorganic acids. For example, such conventional nontoxic salts include those derived from inorganic acids such as hydrochloride, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfamic, phosphoric, nitric, and the like; and the salts prepared from organic acids such as acetic, propionic, succinic, glycolic, stearic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, palmitic, maleic, hydroxymaleic, phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicyclic, sulfanilic, 2-acetoxybenzoic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, ethane disulfonic, oxalic, isothionic, and the like.

In certain embodiments, the oligomers of the present invention may contain one or more acidic functional groups and, thus, are capable of forming pharmaceutically-acceptable salts with pharmaceutically-acceptable bases. The term “pharmaceutically-acceptable salts” in these instances refers to the relatively non-toxic, inorganic and organic base addition salts of compounds of the present invention. These salts can likewise be prepared in situ in the administration vehicle or the dosage form manufacturing process, or by separately reacting the purified compound in its free acid form with a suitable base, such as the hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonate of a pharmaceutically-acceptable metal cation, with ammonia, or with a pharmaceutically-acceptable organic primary, secondary or tertiary amine. Representative alkali or alkaline earth salts include the lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and aluminum salts and the like. Representative organic amines useful for the formation of base addition salts include ethylamine, diethylamine, ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, piperazine and the like. (See, e.g., Berge et al., supra).

Wetting agents, emulsifiers and lubricants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate, as well as coloring agents, release agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants can also be present in the compositions.

Examples of pharmaceutically-acceptable antioxidants include: (1) water soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, cysteine hydrochloride, sodium bisulfate, sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite and the like; (2) oil-soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbyl palmitate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), lecithin, propyl gallate, alpha-tocopherol, and the like; and (3) metal chelating agents, such as citric acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), sorbitol, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like.

Formulations of the present invention include those suitable for oral, nasal, topical (including buccal and sublingual), rectal, vaginal and/or parenteral administration. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any methods well known in the art of pharmacy. The amount of active ingredient that can be combined with a carrier material to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host being treated, the particular mode of administration. The amount of active ingredient which can be combined with a carrier material to produce a single dosage form will generally be that amount of the compound which produces a therapeutic effect. Generally, out of one hundred percent, this amount will range from about 0.1 percent to about ninety-nine percent of active ingredient, preferably from about 5 percent to about 70 percent, most preferably from about 10 percent to about 30 percent.

In certain embodiments, a formulation of the present invention comprises an excipient selected from cyclodextrins, celluloses, liposomes, micelle forming agents, e.g., bile acids, and polymeric carriers, e.g., polyesters and polyanhydrides; and an oligomer of the present invention. In certain embodiments, an aforementioned formulation renders orally bioavailable an oligomer of the present invention.

Methods of preparing these formulations or compositions include the step of bringing into association an oligomer of the present invention with the carrier and, optionally, one or more accessory ingredients. In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association a compound of the present invention with liquid carriers, or finely divided solid carriers, or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

Formulations of the invention suitable for oral administration may be in the form of capsules, cachets, pills, tablets, lozenges (using a flavored basis, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth), powders, granules, or as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid, or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil liquid emulsion, or as an elixir or syrup, or as pastilles (using an inert base, such as gelatin and glycerin, or sucrose and acacia) and/or as mouth washes and the like, each containing a predetermined amount of a compound of the present invention as an active ingredient. An oligomer of the present invention may also be administered as a bolus, electuary or paste.

In solid dosage forms of the invention for oral administration (capsules, tablets, pills, dragees, powders, granules, trouches and the like), the active ingredient may be mixed with one or more pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate, and/or any of the following: (1) fillers or extenders, such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and/or silicic acid; (2) binders, such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sucrose and/or acacia; (3) humectants, such as glycerol; (4) disintegrating agents, such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate; (5) solution retarding agents, such as paraffin; (6) absorption accelerators, such as quaternary ammonium compounds and surfactants, such as poloxamer and sodium lauryl sulfate; (7) wetting agents, such as, for example, cetyl alcohol, glycerol monostearate, and non-ionic surfactants; (8) absorbents, such as kaolin and bentonite clay; (9) lubricants, such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, zinc stearate, sodium stearate, stearic acid, and mixtures thereof; (10) coloring agents; and (11) controlled release agents such as crospovidone or ethyl cellulose. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise buffering agents. Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard-shelled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugars, as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.

A tablet may be made by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared using binder (e.g., gelatin or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose), lubricant, inert diluent, preservative, disintegrant (for example, sodium starch glycolate or cross-linked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), surface-active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets may be made by molding in a suitable machine a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent.

The tablets, and other solid dosage forms of the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention, such as dragees, capsules, pills and granules, may optionally be scored or prepared with coatings and shells, such as enteric coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical-formulating art. They may also be formulated so as to provide slow or controlled release of the active ingredient therein using, for example, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose in varying proportions to provide the desired release profile, other polymer matrices, liposomes and/or microspheres. They may be formulated for rapid release, e.g., freeze-dried. They may be sterilized by, for example, filtration through a bacteria-retaining filter, or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved in sterile water, or some other sterile injectable medium immediately before use. These compositions may also optionally contain opacifying agents and may be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain portion of the gastrointestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions which can be used include polymeric substances and waxes. The active ingredient can also be in micro-encapsulated form, if appropriate, with one or more of the above-described excipients.

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration of the compounds of the invention include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active ingredient, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art, such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers, such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof.

Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions can also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring, coloring, perfuming and preservative agents.

Suspensions, in addition to the active compounds, may contain suspending agents as, for example, ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols, polyoxyethylene sorbitol and sorbitan esters, microcrystalline cellulose, aluminum metahydroxide, bentonite, agar-agar and tragacanth, and mixtures thereof.

Formulations for rectal or vaginal administration may be presented as a suppository, which may be prepared by mixing one or more compounds of the invention with one or more suitable nonirritating excipients or carriers comprising, for example, cocoa butter, polyethylene glycol, a suppository wax or a salicylate, and which is solid at room temperature, but liquid at body temperature and, therefore, will melt in the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound.

Formulations or dosage forms for the topical or transdermal administration of an oligomer as provided herein include powders, sprays, ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels, solutions, patches and inhalants. The active oligomers may be mixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, and with any preservatives, buffers, or propellants which may be required. The ointments, pastes, creams and gels may contain, in addition to an active compound of this invention, excipients, such as animal and vegetable fats, oils, waxes, paraffins, starch, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene glycols, silicones, bentonites, silicic acid, talc and zinc oxide, or mixtures thereof.

Powders and sprays can contain, in addition to an oligomer of the present invention, excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminum hydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of these substances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants, such as chlorofluorohydrocarbons and volatile unsubstituted hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane.

Transdermal patches have the added advantage of providing controlled delivery of an oligomer of the present invention to the body. Such dosage forms can be made by dissolving or dispersing the oligomer in the proper medium. Absorption enhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the agent across the skin. The rate of such flux can be controlled by either providing a rate controlling membrane or dispersing the agent in a polymer matrix or gel, among other methods known in the art.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for parenteral administration may comprise one or more oligomers of the invention in combination with one or more pharmaceutically-acceptable sterile isotonic aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions, or sterile powders which may be reconstituted into sterile injectable solutions or dispersions just prior to use, which may contain sugars, alcohols, antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient or suspending or thickening agents. Examples of suitable aqueous and nonaqueous carriers which may be employed in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include water, ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils, such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters, such as ethyl oleate. Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of coating materials, such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions, and by the use of surfactants.

These compositions may also contain adjuvants such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersing agents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms upon the subject oligomers may be ensured by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, paraben, chlorobutanol, phenol sorbic acid, and the like. It may also be desirable to include isotonic agents, such as sugars, sodium chloride, and the like into the compositions. In addition, prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form may be brought about by the inclusion of agents which delay absorption such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

In some cases, in order to prolong the effect of a drug, it is desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material having poor water solubility, among other methods known in the art. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution which, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally-administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle.

Injectable depot forms may be made by forming microencapsule matrices of the subject oligomers in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending on the ratio of oligomer to polymer, and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of oligomer release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations may also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions that are compatible with body tissues.

When the oligomers of the present invention are administered as pharmaceuticals, to humans and animals, they can be given per se or as a pharmaceutical composition containing, for example, 0.1 to 99% (more preferably, 10 to 30%) of active ingredient in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

As noted above, the formulations or preparations of the present invention may be given orally, parenterally, systemically, topically, rectally or intramuscular administartion. They are typically given in forms suitable for each administration route. For example, they are administered in tablets or capsule form, by injection, inhalation, eye lotion, ointment, suppository, etc. administration by injection, infusion or inhalation; topical by lotion or ointment; and rectal by suppositories.

The phrases “parenteral administration” and “administered parenterally” as used herein means modes of administration other than enteral and topical administration, usually by injection, and includes, without limitation, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial, intrathecal, intracapsular, intraorbital, intracardiac, intradermal, intraperitoneal, transtracheal, subcutaneous, subcuticular, intraarticular, subcapsular, subarachnoid, intraspinal and intrasternal injection and infusion.

The phrases “systemic administration,” “administered systemically,” “peripheral administration” and “administered peripherally” as used herein mean the administration of a compound, drug or other material other than directly into the central nervous system, such that it enters the patient's system and, thus, is subject to metabolism and other like processes, for example, subcutaneous administration.

Regardless of the route of administration selected, the oligomers of the present invention, which may be used in a suitable hydrated form, and/or the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention, may be formulated into pharmaceutically-acceptable dosage forms by conventional methods known to those of skill in the art. Actual dosage levels of the active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active ingredient which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration, without being unacceptably toxic to the patient.

The selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the particular oligomer of the present invention employed, or the ester, salt or amide thereof, the route of administration, the time of administration, the rate of excretion or metabolism of the particular oligomer being employed, the rate and extent of absorption, the duration of the treatment, other drugs, compounds and/or materials used in combination with the particular oligomer employed, the age, sex, weight, condition, general health and prior medical history of the patient being treated, and like factors well known in the medical arts.

A physician or veterinarian having ordinary skill in the art can readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition required. For example, the physician or veterinarian could start doses of the compounds of the invention employed in the pharmaceutical composition at levels lower than that required in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and gradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved. In general, a suitable daily dose of a compound of the invention will be that amount of the compound which is the lowest dose effective to produce a therapeutic effect. Such an effective dose will generally depend upon the factors described above. Generally, oral, intravenous, intracerebroventricular, intramuscular and subcutaneous doses of the compounds of this invention for a patient, when used for the indicated effects, will range from about 0.0001 to about 100 mg per kilogram of body weight per day.

Preferred doses of the oligomers of the present invention (e.g., phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers; eteplirsen) are administered generally from about 20-100 mg/kg. In some cases, doses of greater than 100 mg/kg may be necessary. For i.v. administration, preferred doses are from about 0.5 mg to 100 mg/kg. In some embodiments, the oligomers are administered at doses of about 20 mg/kg, 21 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 26 mg/kg, 27 mg/kg, 28 mg/kg, 29 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 31 mg/kg, 32 mg/kg, 33 mg/kg, 34 mg/kg, 35 mg/kg, 36 mg/kg, 37 mg/kg, 38 mg/kg, 39 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, 41 mg/kg, 42 mg/kg, 43 mg/kg, 44 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, 46 mg/kg, 47 mg/kg, 48 mg/kg, 49 mg/kg 50 mg/kg, 51 mg/kg, 52 mg/kg, 53 mg/kg, 54 mg/kg, 55 mg/kg, 56 mg/kg, 57 mg/kg, 58 mg/kg, 59 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 65 mg/kg, 70 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg, 85 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 95 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, including all integers in between. In a preferred embodiment, the oligomer is administered at 30 mg/kg. In another preferred embodiment, the oligomer is administered at 50 mg/kg.

If desired, the effective daily dose of the active compound may be administered as two, three, four, five, six or more sub-doses administered separately at appropriate intervals throughout the day, optionally, in unit dosage forms. In certain situations, dosing is one administration per day. In certain embodiments, dosing is one or more administration per every 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 days, or every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 weeks, or every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 months, as needed, to maintain the desired expression of a functional dystrophin protein.

In some embodiments, the oligomers of the present invention (e.g., phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers; eteplirsen) are administered, generally at regular intervals (e.g., daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, bimonthly). The oligomers may be administered at regular intervals, e.g., daily; once every two days; once every three days; once every 3 to 7 days; once every 3 to 10 days; once every 7 to 10 days; once every week; once every two weeks; once monthly. For example, the oligomers may be administered once weekly by intravenous infusion. The oligomers may be administered intermittently over a longer period of time, e.g., for several weeks, months or years. For example, the oligomers may be administered once every one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven or twelve months. In addition, the oligomers may be administered once every one, two, three, four or five years. Administration may be followed by, or concurrent with, administration of an antibiotic, steroid or other therapeutic agent. The treatment regimen may be adjusted (dose, frequency, route, etc.) as indicated, based on the results of immunoassays, other biochemical tests and physiological examination of the subject under treatment.

Nucleic acid molecules can be administered to cells by a variety of methods known to those familiar to the art, including, but not restricted to, encapsulation in liposomes, by iontophoresis, or by incorporation into other vehicles, such as hydrogels, cyclodextrins, biodegradable nanocapsules, and bioadhesive microspheres, as described herein and known in the art. In certain embodiments, microemulsification technology may be utilized to improve bioavailability of lipophilic (water insoluble) pharmaceutical agents. Examples include Trimetrine (Dordunoo, S. K., et al., Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 17(12), 1685-1713, 1991 and REV 5901 (Sheen, P. C., et al., J Pharm Sci 80(7), 712-714, 1991). Among other benefits, microemulsification provides enhanced bioavailability by preferentially directing absorption to the lymphatic system instead of the circulatory system, which thereby bypasses the liver, and prevents destruction of the compounds in the hepatobiliary circulation.

In one aspect of invention, the formulations contain micelles formed from an oligomer as provided herein and at least one amphiphilic carrier, in which the micelles have an average diameter of less than about 100 nm. More preferred embodiments provide micelles having an average diameter less than about 50 nm, and even more preferred embodiments provide micelles having an average diameter less than about 30 nm, or even less than about 20 nm.

While all suitable amphiphilic carriers are contemplated, the presently preferred carriers are generally those that have Generally-Recognized-as-Safe (GRAS) status, and that can both solubilize the compound of the present invention and microemulsify it at a later stage when the solution comes into a contact with a complex water phase (such as one found in human gastro-intestinal tract). Usually, amphiphilic ingredients that satisfy these requirements have HLB (hydrophilic to lipophilic balance) values of 2-20, and their structures contain straight chain aliphatic radicals in the range of C-6 to C-20. Examples are polyethylene-glycolized fatty glycerides and polyethylene glycols.

Examples of amphiphilic carriers include saturated and monounsaturated polyethyleneglycolyzed fatty acid glycerides, such as those obtained from fully or partially hydrogenated various vegetable oils. Such oils may advantageously consist of tri-, di-, and mono-fatty acid glycerides and di- and mono-polyethyleneglycol esters of the corresponding fatty acids, with a particularly preferred fatty acid composition including capric acid 4-10, capric acid 3-9, lauric acid 40-50, myristic acid 14-24, palmitic acid 4-14 and stearic acid 5-15%. Another useful class of amphiphilic carriers includes partially esterified sorbitan and/or sorbitol, with saturated or mono-unsaturated fatty acids (SPAN-series) or corresponding ethoxylated analogs (TWEEN-series).

Commercially available amphiphilic carriers may be particularly useful, including Gelucire-series, Labrafil, Labrasol, or Lauroglycol (all manufactured and distributed by Gattefosse Corporation, Saint Priest, France), PEG-mono-oleate, PEG-di-oleate, PEG-mono-laurate and di-laurate, Lecithin, Polysorbate 80, etc (produced and distributed by a number of companies in USA and worldwide).

In certain embodiments, the delivery may occur by use of liposomes, nanocapsules, microparticles, microspheres, lipid particles, vesicles, and the like, for the introduction of the compositions of the present invention into suitable host cells. In particular, the compositions of the present invention may be formulated for delivery either encapsulated in a lipid particle, a liposome, a vesicle, a nanosphere, a nanoparticle or the like. The formulation and use of such delivery vehicles can be carried out using known and conventional techniques.

Hydrophilic polymers suitable for use in the present invention are those which are readily water-soluble, can be covalently attached to a vesicle-forming lipid, and which are tolerated in vivo without toxic effects (i.e., are biocompatible). Suitable polymers include polyethylene glycol (PEG), polylactic (also termed polylactide), polyglycolic acid (also termed polyglycolide), a polylactic-polyglycolic acid copolymer, and polyvinyl alcohol. In certain embodiments, polymers have a molecular weight of from about 100 or 120 daltons up to about 5,000 or 10,000 daltons, or from about 300 daltons to about 5,000 daltons. In other embodiments, the polymer is polyethyleneglycol having a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 5,000 daltons, or having a molecular weight of from about 300 to about 5,000 daltons. In certain embodiments, the polymer is polyethyleneglycol of 750 daltons (PEG(750)). Polymers may also be defined by the number of monomers therein; a preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes polymers of at least about three monomers, such PEG polymers consisting of three monomers (approximately 150 daltons).

Other hydrophilic polymers which may be suitable for use in the present invention include polyvinylpyrrolidone, polymethoxazoline, polyethyloxazoline, polyhydroxypropyl methacrylamide, polymethacrylamide, polydimethylacrylamide, and derivatized celluloses such as hydroxymethylcellulose or hydroxyethylcellulose.

In certain embodiments, a formulation of the present invention comprises a biocompatible polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polycarbonates, polyalkylenes, polymers of acrylic and methacrylic esters, polyvinyl polymers, polyglycolides, polysiloxanes, polyurethanes and co-polymers thereof, celluloses, polypropylene, polyethylenes, polystyrene, polymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid, polyanhydrides, poly(ortho)esters, poly(butic acid), poly(valeric acid), poly(lactide-co-caprolactone), polysaccharide's, proteins, polyhyaluronic acids, polycyanoacrylates, and blends, mixtures, or copolymers thereof.

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides, consisting of 6, 7 or 8 glucose units, designated by the Greek letter α, β, or γ, respectively. The glucose units are linked by α-1,4-glucosidic bonds. As a consequence of the chair conformation of the sugar units, all secondary hydroxyl groups (at C-2, C-3) are located on one side of the ring, while all the primary hydroxyl groups at C-6 are situated on the other side. As a result, the external faces are hydrophilic, making the cyclodextrins water-soluble. In contrast, the cavities of the cyclodextrins are hydrophobic, since they are lined by the hydrogen of atoms C-3 and C-5, and by ether-like oxygens. These matrices allow complexation with a variety of relatively hydrophobic compounds, including, for instance, steroid compounds such as 17α-estradiol (see, e.g., van Uden et al. Plant Cell Tiss. Org. Cult. 38:1-3-113 (1994)). The complexation takes place by Van der Waals interactions and by hydrogen bond formation. For a general review of the chemistry of cyclodextrins, see, Wenz, Agnew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 33:803-822 (1994).

The physico-chemical properties of the cyclodextrin derivatives depend strongly on the kind and the degree of substitution. For example, their solubility in water ranges from insoluble (e.g., triacetyl-beta-cyclodextrin) to 147% soluble (w/v) (G-2-beta-cyclodextrin). In addition, they are soluble in many organic solvents. The properties of the cyclodextrins enable the control over solubility of various formulation components by increasing or decreasing their solubility.

Numerous cyclodextrins and methods for their preparation have been described. For example, Parmeter (I), et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,453,259) and Gramera, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,731) described electroneutral cyclodextrins. Other derivatives include cyclodextrins with cationic properties [Parmeter (II), U.S. Pat. No. 3,453,257], insoluble crosslinked cyclodextrins (Solms, U.S. Pat. No. 3,420,788), and cyclodextrins with anionic properties [Parmeter (III), U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,011]. Among the cyclodextrin derivatives with anionic properties, carboxylic acids, phosphorous acids, phosphinous acids, phosphonic acids, phosphoric acids, thiophosphonic acids, thiosulphinic acids, and sulfonic acids have been appended to the parent cyclodextrin [see, Parmeter (III), supra]. Furthermore, sulfoalkyl ether cyclodextrin derivatives have been described by Stella, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,127).

Liposomes consist of at least one lipid bilayer membrane enclosing an aqueous internal compartment. Liposomes may be characterized by membrane type and by size. Small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) have a single membrane and typically range between 0.02 and 0.05 μm in diameter; large unilamellar vesicles (LUVS) are typically larger than 0.05 μm. Oligolamellar large vesicles and multilamellar vesicles have multiple, usually concentric, membrane layers and are typically larger than 0.1 μm. Liposomes with several nonconcentric membranes, i.e., several smaller vesicles contained within a larger vesicle, are termed multivesicular vesicles.

One aspect of the present invention relates to formulations comprising liposomes containing an oligomer of the present invention, where the liposome membrane is formulated to provide a liposome with increased carrying capacity. Alternatively or in addition, the compound of the present invention may be contained within, or adsorbed onto, the liposome bilayer of the liposome. An oligomer of the present invention may be aggregated with a lipid surfactant and carried within the liposome's internal space; in these cases, the liposome membrane is formulated to resist the disruptive effects of the active agent-surfactant aggregate.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lipid bilayer of a liposome contains lipids derivatized with polyethylene glycol (PEG), such that the PEG chains extend from the inner surface of the lipid bilayer into the interior space encapsulated by the liposome, and extend from the exterior of the lipid bilayer into the surrounding environment.

Active agents contained within liposomes of the present invention are in solubilized form. Aggregates of surfactant and active agent (such as emulsions or micelles containing the active agent of interest) may be entrapped within the interior space of liposomes according to the present invention. A surfactant acts to disperse and solubilize the active agent, and may be selected from any suitable aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic surfactant, including but not limited to biocompatible lysophosphatidylcholines (LPGs) of varying chain lengths (for example, from about C14 to about C20). Polymer-derivatized lipids such as PEG-lipids may also be utilized for micelle formation as they will act to inhibit micelle/membrane fusion, and as the addition of a polymer to surfactant molecules decreases the CMC of the surfactant and aids in micelle formation. Preferred are surfactants with CMOs in the micromolar range; higher CMC surfactants may be utilized to prepare micelles entrapped within liposomes of the present invention.

Liposomes according to the present invention may be prepared by any of a variety of techniques that are known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,871; Published PCT applications WO 96/14057; New RRC, Liposomes: A practical approach, IRL Press, Oxford (1990), pages 33-104; Lasic D D, Liposomes from physics to applications, Elsevier Science Publishers BV, Amsterdam, 1993. For example, liposomes of the present invention may be prepared by diffusing a lipid derivatized with a hydrophilic polymer into preformed liposomes, such as by exposing preformed liposomes to micelles composed of lipid-grafted polymers, at lipid concentrations corresponding to the final mole percent of derivatized lipid which is desired in the liposome. Liposomes containing a hydrophilic polymer can also be formed by homogenization, lipid-field hydration, or extrusion techniques, as are known in the art.

In another exemplary formulation procedure, the active agent is first dispersed by sonication in a lysophosphatidylcholine or other low CMC surfactant (including polymer grafted lipids) that readily solubilizes hydrophobic molecules. The resulting micellar suspension of active agent is then used to rehydrate a dried lipid sample that contains a suitable mole percent of polymer-grafted lipid, or cholesterol. The lipid and active agent suspension is then formed into liposomes using extrusion techniques as are known in the art, and the resulting liposomes separated from the unencapsulated solution by standard column separation.

In one aspect of the present invention, the liposomes are prepared to have substantially homogeneous sizes in a selected size range. One effective sizing method involves extruding an aqueous suspension of the liposomes through a series of polycarbonate membranes having a selected uniform pore size; the pore size of the membrane will correspond roughly with the largest sizes of liposomes produced by extrusion through that membrane. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,323 (Apr. 12, 1988). In certain embodiments, reagents such as DharmaFECT® and Lipofectamine® may be utilized to introduce polynucleotides or proteins into cells.

The release characteristics of a formulation of the present invention depend on the encapsulating material, the concentration of encapsulated drug, and the presence of release modifiers. For example, release can be manipulated to be pH dependent, for example, using a pH sensitive coating that releases only at a low pH, as in the stomach, or a higher pH, as in the intestine. An enteric coating can be used to prevent release from occurring until after passage through the stomach. Multiple coatings or mixtures of cyanamide encapsulated in different materials can be used to obtain an initial release in the stomach, followed by later release in the intestine. Release can also be manipulated by inclusion of salts or pore forming agents, which can increase water uptake or release of drug by diffusion from the capsule. Excipients which modify the solubility of the drug can also be used to control the release rate. Agents which enhance degradation of the matrix or release from the matrix can also be incorporated. They can be added to the drug, added as a separate phase (i.e., as particulates), or can be co-dissolved in the polymer phase depending on the compound. In most cases the amount should be between OA and thirty percent (w/w polymer). Types of degradation enhancers include inorganic salts such as ammonium sulfate and ammonium chloride, organic acids such as citric acid, benzoic acid, and ascorbic acid, inorganic bases such as sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, zinc carbonate, and zinc hydroxide, and organic bases such as protamine sulfate, spermine, choline, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine and surfactants such as Tween® and Pluronic®. Pore forming agents which add microstructure to the matrices (i.e., water soluble compounds such as inorganic salts and sugars) are added as particulates. The range is typically between one and thirty percent (w/w polymer).

Uptake can also be manipulated by altering residence time of the particles in the gut. This can be achieved, for example, by coating the particle with, or selecting as the encapsulating material, a mucosal adhesive polymer. Examples include most polymers with free carboxyl groups, such as chitosan, celluloses, and especially polyacrylates (as used herein, polyacrylates refers to polymers including acrylate groups and modified acrylate groups such as cyanoacrylates and methacrylates).

An oligomer may be formulated to be contained within, or, adapted to release by a surgical or medical device or implant. In certain aspects, an implant may be coated or otherwise treated with an oligomer. For example, hydrogels, or other polymers, such as biocompatible and/or biodegradable polymers, may be used to coat an implant with the compositions of the present invention (i.e., the composition may be adapted for use with a medical device by using a hydrogel or other polymer). Polymers and copolymers for coating medical devices with an agent are well-known in the art. Examples of implants include, but are not limited to, stents, drug-eluting stents, sutures, prosthesis, vascular catheters, dialysis catheters, vascular grafts, prosthetic heart valves, cardiac pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, IV needles, devices for bone setting and formation, such as pins, screws, plates, and other devices, and artificial tissue matrices for wound healing.

In addition to the methods provided herein, the oligomers for use according to the invention may be formulated for administration in any convenient way for use in human or veterinary medicine, by analogy with other pharmaceuticals. The antisense oligomers and their corresponding formulations may be administered alone or in combination with other therapeutic strategies in the treatment of muscular dystrophy, such as myoblast transplantation, stem cell therapies, administration of aminoglycoside antibiotics, proteasome inhibitors, and up-regulation therapies (e.g., upregulation of utrophin, an autosomal paralogue of dystrophin).

The routes of administration described are intended only as a guide since a skilled practitioner will be able to determine readily the optimum route of administration and any dosage for any particular animal and condition. Multiple approaches for introducing functional new genetic material into cells, both in vitro and in vivo have been attempted (Friedmann (1989) Science, 244:1275-1280). These approaches include integration of the gene to be expressed into modified retroviruses (Friedmann (1989) supra; Rosenberg (1991) Cancer Research 51(18), suppl.: 5074S-5079S); integration into non-retrovirus vectors (e.g., adeno-associated viral vectors) (Rosenfeld, et al. (1992) Cell, 68:143-155; Rosenfeld, et al. (1991) Science, 252:431-434); or delivery of a transgene linked to a heterologous promoter-enhancer element via liposomes (Friedmann (1989), supra; Brigham, et al. (1989) Am. J. Med. Sci., 298:278-281; Nabel, et al. (1990) Science, 249:1285-1288; Hazinski, et al. (1991) Am. J. Resp. Cell Molec. Biol., 4:206-209; and Wang and Huang (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 84:7851-7855); coupled to ligand-specific, cation-based transport systems (Wu and Wu (1988) J. Biol, Chem., 263:14621-14624) or the use of naked DNA, expression vectors (Nabel et al. (1990), supra); Wolff et al. (1990) Science, 247:1465-1468). Direct injection of transgenes into tissue produces only localized expression (Rosenfeld (1992) supra); Rosenfeld et al. (1991) supra; Brigham et al. (1989) supra; Nabel (1990) supra; and Hazinski et al. (1991) supra). The Brigham et al. group (Am. J. Med. Sci. (1989) 298:278-281 and Clinical Research (1991) 39 (abstract)) have reported in vivo transfection only of lungs of mice following either intravenous or intratracheal administration of a DNA liposome complex. An example of a review article of human gene therapy procedures is: Anderson, Science (1992) 256:808-813.

V. KITS

The invention also provides kits for treatment of a patient with a genetic disease which kit comprises at least an antisense molecule (e.g., one or more antisense oligonucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing to any one or more of exons 1-79 of the dystrophin gene; for example, Exon 51 as set forth in Tables 3 and 4 herein), packaged in a suitable container, together with instructions for its use. The kits may also contain peripheral reagents such as buffers, stabilizers, etc. Those of ordinary skill in the field should appreciate that applications of the above method has wide application for identifying antisense molecules suitable for use in the treatment of many other diseases.

VII. EXAMPLES

Materials and Methods

Patients

Eligible patients were between 7 and 13 years of age (inclusive), with out-of-frame deletions of the DMD gene that could be corrected by skipping exon 51. Patients were confirmed to have stable cardiac and pulmonary function and a stable dose of glucocorticoids for at least 24 weeks prior to enrollment. Only patients who could walk between 200 and 400 meters (±10%) on the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) at baseline were enrolled.

Study Design

This one-year trial was conducted in two phases: (1) treatment was double-blind through week 24 and (2) open-label thereafter. Primary endpoints were change in percent dystrophin fibers and ambulation as measured by the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT).

Study 201 was a single-site, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-dose efficacy, safety and tolerability trial of eteplirsen. Twelve patients with DMD were randomized to one of three groups: eteplirsen 30 mg/kg/week (Cohort 1); eteplirsen 50 mg/kg/week (Cohort 2); or placebo/delayed eteplirsen (Cohort 3). All patients received weekly intravenous eteplirsen or placebo/delayed eteplirsen dosing. Placebo-treated patients crossed over to weekly eteplirsen 30 (n=2) or 50 mg/kg (n=2) at week 25. Efficacy and safety were assessed at scheduled visits, and an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board ensured the welfare of all patients. All patients had bicep biopsies at baseline. Follow-up biopsies were performed in the opposite arm (biceps) at week 12 for the 50 mg/kg group and two placebo-treated patients and at week 24 for the 30 mg/kg group and two placebo-treated patients.

Patients continued weekly dosing with 30 or 50 mg/kg eteplirsen under Study 202, a long-term, open-label extension study. All efficacy assessments continued to be performed during Study 202, including a third biopsy (in the left deltoid muscle) in all patients at week 48. Monitoring of adverse events continued throughout the study. A schematic of the study design is shown in FIG. 1.

Study Drug

Eteplirsen [sequence 5′-CTCCAACATCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCTAG-3]′ (SEQ ID NO:1) was supplied by Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. in single-use vials of phosphate-buffered saline (100 mg/ml). Eteplirsen was reconstituted with 150 ml normal saline and infused over 60 minutes. Placebo, administered during the first 24 weeks of Study 201, was supplied as identical vials of phosphate-buffered saline and was administered in the same manner as eteplirsen.

Safety and Tolerability Monitoring

Safety was assessed by evaluation of adverse events, vital signs, physical examinations, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and clinical laboratory testing. In addition, kidney function was monitored via regular assessments of serum cystatin C and urine cystatin C and KIM-1.

Pharmacokinetic and Immune Assessments

Pharmacokinetic parameters of eteplirsen were established from plasma and urine taken after the twelfth dose using a validated and sensitive anion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection bioanalytical method. Single samples for analysis of plasma concentrations were taken at weeks 24, 25, and 36. Immune response to novel dystrophin protein was measured every six weeks through week 24 with ELISPOT following methods previously published.

Biochemical Efficacy Assessments

Pre- and post-treatment dystrophin expression studies were based on MANDYS106 [a gift from Glen Morris, MDA Monoclonal Antibody Library], a highly sensitive marker for dystrophin used in prior studies of eteplirsen and other exon skipping candidates. Three 10 μm frozen sections, separated by at least 200 μm, were stained with MANDYS106, followed by a secondary antibody (Alexa Fluor 594 goat antimouse antibody). Percent dystrophin-positive fibers were calculated by dividing the number of positive fibers by the total fibers counted. As normal muscle samples have 100% dystrophin-positive fibers, percent dystrophin-positive fibers is expressed as a percentage of normal. The same antibody-stained sections were used for dystrophin quantification using Bioquant image analysis software. The total dystrophin fluorescence signal intensity was reported as a percentage of normal.

Supportive measurements included expression of the components of the sarcoglycan complex (β,γ), neuronal NOS, and Western blot (with the anti-dystrophin antibody NCL-Dys1 from Novacastra). RT-PCR analysis, for confirmation of exon skipping, was performed on 400 ng of total RNA using dystrophin-specific reverse primers as previously described.

Clinical Efficacy Assessments

The 6MWT was administered using the protocol established for patients with DMD by McDonald, et al. (Muscle Nerve, 2010; 42:966-74, herein incorporated by reference). Exploratory functional outcomes included the North Star Ambulatory Assessment, quantitative muscle testing, the 9-Hole Peg Test, pulmonary function testing (PFT), timed function tests, and assessment of quality of life.

Statistical Analysis

SAS version 9.3 (Cary, N.C.) was used for all statistical analyses. Mixed model with treatment as fixed effect, subject nested within treatment as random effect, with the baseline value and time since DMD diagnosis as covariates for the analysis of muscle biopsy data was used. Mixed model repeated measures (MMRM) with treatment, time, and treatment-by-time interaction terms as fixed effect, subject nested within treatment as random effect, and with the baseline value and time since DMD diagnosis as covariates for analysis of the 6MWT data was used. Safety and muscle biopsy analyses were performed on the intent-to-treat population; analysis of ambulation-related outcomes, including the 6MWT, used a modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population that excluded two patients in Cohort 1 who showed signs of disease progression and significant decline on the 6MWT within weeks of enrollment and could not perform measures of ambulation at week 24 or beyond.

Example 1: Subject Characteristics

Baseline characteristics of the 12 patients in this study are summarized in Table 2. Five different genotypes amenable to exon 51 skipping were represented in the study population. Mean distances on the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) at baseline were similar to those in other studies of children with DMD, and as expected, were well below the 600 plus meters typically observed in age-matched healthy children. Due to the stochastic nature of the sampling, the 30 mg/kg cohort was slightly older, heavier, and taller, relative to the other cohorts, and had a lower mean 6MWT distance at baseline. All patients received all infusions of study medication as planned and completed all assessments.

TABLE 2 Baseline Demography and Disease Characteristics Placebo/ Eteplirsen Eteplirsen Delayed Eteplirsen 30 mg/kg 50 mg/kg Treatment Arm N = 4 N = 4 N = 4 Mutation 45-50 n (%) 0 2 (50) 1 (25) 48-50 n (%) 0 1 (25) 0 49-50 n (%) 3 (75) 0 2 (50) 50 n (%) 1 (25) 0 0 52 n (%) 0 1 (25) 1 (25) Gender n (%) Male  4 (100)  4 (100)  4 (100) Age, years Mean 8.5 9.3 8.5 SD 1.73 0.50 1.29 Min, Max  7, 10  9, 10  7, 10 Height, cm Mean 119.3 130.5 121.3 SD 3.40 9.47 7.85 Min, Max 116, 124 117, 138 117, 133 Weight, kg Mean 30.6 34.8 29.0 SD 6.04 7.05 6.38 Min, Max 22.1, 36.2 24.8, 39.8 23.7, 38.3 Race. n (%) Asian 0 1 (25) 0 White  4 (100) 3 (75)  4 (100) 6MWT*, meters Mean 394.5 355.3 396.0 SD 42.25 74.78 26.61 Min, Max 364, 456 261, 442 365, 439

Example 2: Safety and Lack of Adverse Events

Eteplirsen was well tolerated with no treatment-related adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations or missed doses through 48 weeks of treatment. Moreover, no clinically significant changes were observed on physical examination or in vital signs. Electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and PFTs remained stable, and chemistries showed no clinically significant changes in hematologic, renal, coagulation or liver functions. Mild and transient proteinuria was observed in a single placebo-treated subject.

Example 3: Pharmacokinetic Profile

Analysis of PK parameters at week 12 revealed rapid absorption. Plasma clearance averaged 339±75.8 mL/hr/kg for 30 mg/kg and 319±125 mL/hr/kg for 50 mg/kg. Half-life averaged 3.30±0.341 hr for 30 mg/kg and 3.17±0.249 hr for 50 mg/kg, with renal clearance accounting for approximately 65-70% of total systemic clearance.

Example 4: Efficacy

At week 48, eteplirsen produced robust increases in the number and intensity of dystrophin-positive fibers. As shown in FIG. 3, patients who received 30 or 50 mg/kg eteplirsen without interruption for 48 weeks showed a mean increase in the percentage of dystrophin-positive fibers to 47% of normal (p≤0.001), relative to baseline. Increases were similar when the 30 (52%; p≤0.001) and 50 (43%; p≤0.008) mg/kg cohorts were analyzed separately, suggesting that eteplirsen's effect on the production of novel dystrophin is independent of dose within this range of doses.

Biopsies were taken at staggered time points (see FIG. 2) to evaluate the impact of treatment duration on novel dystrophin production. At week 12, the 50 mg/kg cohort had undetectable levels of novel dystrophin. At week 24, the 30 mg/kg cohort demonstrated an increase in the percentage of dystrophin-positive fibers to 23% of normal (p≤0.002), and at week 48, after 24 weeks of treatment with 30 or 50 mg/kg eteplirsen, the 4 patients in the placebo/delayed eteplirsen cohort showed an increase to 38% of normal, relative to baseline (p≤0.009). Together these data suggest that treatment duration plays an important role in eteplirsen's ability to uniformly restore novel dystrophin production. Consistent with these findings, eteplirsen also significantly increased mean fluorescence signal intensity at week 48 in all three treatment groups (all p-values≤0.023).

FIG. 4 illustrates eteplirsens time-dependent effect on the percentage of dystrophin-positive fibers (Panel A), which was accompanied by restoration of β- and γ-sarcoglycan and nNOSμ at the sarcolemma (Panel B). Dystrophin expression and exon skipping were confirmed by Western blot and RT-PCR in all patients. RT-PCR results from a representative patient are shown in Panel C. These data confirmed the increase in functional dystrophin in the patients.

Example 5: Functional Outcomes

The progressive loss of walking ability is a universal hallmark of DMD, with most patients showing functional compromise by 7 or 8 years of age and becoming wheelchair dependent by 10 to 14 years of age. Consistent with this, boys assigned to the placebo/delayed eteplirsen cohort in this study showed a decline in walking ability after week 12 at a rate predicted by prior studies, culminating in a loss of approximately 60 meters by week 48 (FIG. 5). In marked contrast, eteplirsen-treated patients maintained a stable walking distance over the duration of the study, with a mean increase from baseline of about 7 meters by week 48. The difference between the eteplirsen-treated patients and those in the placebo/delayed eteplirsen cohort first became statistically significant at week 32 (39-meter difference; p≤0.05). Interestingly, patients in the placebo/delayed eteplirsen cohort appeared to stabilize after week 36, i.e., between 12 and 24 weeks after initiating treatment with eteplirsen at week 25. As previously noted, two boys who showed signs of rapid disease progression and significant decline on the 6MWT within weeks of enrollment and were unable to perform measures of ambulation at 24 weeks or beyond, were excluded from this analysis. However, both remained on eteplirsen through week 48 with no treatment-related adverse events and maintained stable pulmonary and upper limb function as measured by PFT and the 9-Hole Peg Test, respectively.

Notably, patients receiving eteplirsen for 48 weeks, evaluable on the 6MWT (n=6), significantly (p≤0.001) improved on the 6MWT (67.3 m) compared to the placebo/delayed cohort.

Example 6: Immune Response

There were no differences between the eteplirsen- and placebo-treated patients in the number of interferon-γ-induced spot forming colonies to dystrophin peptide pools (extended over the entire protein) at any time point assessed, including week 24, indicating that the newly expressed dystrophin in the eteplirsen-treated patients did not elicit a T-cell response.

All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

REFERENCES

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SEQUENCE LISTING

With respect to the nucleic acid sequences provided in the application, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that depending on the use of the oligomers, Ts and Us are interchangeable.

TABLE 3 EXON SEQ ID SEQUENCE NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE (5′-3′) 51 1 eteplirsen CTC CAA CAT CAA GGA AGA TGG CAT H51A (+66 +95) TTC TAG 51 2 H51A (+66 +90) ACA UCA AGG AAG AUG GCA UUU CUA G 51 3 H51A (+61 +90) ACA UCA AGG AAG AUG GCA UUU CUA GUU UGG 51 4 Hu.DMD.exon51.25.001.2 GAG CAG GTA CCT CCA ACA TCA AGG AA 50 5 H50D (+07 -18) GGG AUC CAG UAU ACU UAC AGG CUC C 50 6 AVI-4038/5038 CTT ACA GGC TCC AAT AGT GGT CAG T 53 7 H53A27 (+30 +56) CCT CCG GTT CTG AAG GTG TTC TTG TAC 53 8 H53A (+36 +60) GTT GCC TCC GGT TCT GAA GGT GTT C 45 9 H45A (-03 +19) CAA TGC CAT CCT GGA GTT CCT G

TABLE 4 SEQ ID SEQUENCE NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE (5′-3′)  10 H8A (-06 +18) GAU AGG UGG UAU CAA CAU CUG UAA  11 H8A (-03 +18) GAU AGG UGG UAU CAA CAU CUG  12 H8A (-07 +18) GAU AGG UGG UAU CAA CAU CUG UAA G  13 H8A (-06 +14) GGU GGU AUC AAC AUC UGU AA  14 HSA (-10 +10) GUA UCA ACA UCU GUA AGC AC   15 H7A (+45 +67) UGC AUG UUC CAG UCG UUG UGU GG  16 H7A (+02 +26) CAC UAU UCC AGU CAA AUA GGU CUG G  17 H7D (+15 -10) AUU UAC CAA CCU UCA GGA UCG AGU A  18 H7A (-18 +03) GGC CUA AAA CAC AUA CAC AUA  19 C6A (-10 +10) CAU UUU UGA CCU ACA UGU GG  20 C6A (-14 +06) UUU GAC CUA CAU GUG GAA AG  21 C6A (-14 +12) UAC AUU UUU GAC CUA CAU GUG GAA AG  22 C6A (-13 +09) AUU UUU GAC CUA CAU GGG AAA G  23 CH6A (+69 +91) UAC GAG UUG AUU GUC GGA CCC AG  24 C6D (+12 -13) GUG GUC UCC UUA CCU AUG ACU GUG G  25 C6D (+06 -11) GGU CUC CUU ACC UAU GA  26 H6D (+04 -21) UGU CUC AGU AAU CUU CUU ACC UAU  27 H6D (+18 -04) UCU UAC CUA UGA CUA UGG AUG AGA  28 H4A (+13 +32) GCA UGA ACU CUU GUG GAU CC  29 H4D (+04 -16) CCA GGG UAC UAC UUA CAU UA  30 H4D (-24 -44) AUC GUG UGU CAC AGC AUC CAG  31 H4A (+11 +40) UGU UCA GGG CAU GAA CUC UUG UGG AUC CUU  32 H3A (+30 +60) UAG GAG GCG CCU CCC AUC CUG UAG GUC ACU G  33 H3A (+35 +65) AGG UCU AGG AGG CGC CUC CCA UCC UGU AGG U  34 H3A (+30 +54) GCG CCU CCC AUC CUG UAG GUC ACU G  35 H3D (+46 -21) CUU CGA GGA GGU CUA GGA GGC GCC UC  36 H3A (+30 +50) CUC CCA UCC UGU AGG UCA CUG  37 H3D (+19 -03) UAC CAG UUU UUG CCC UGU CAG G  38 H3A (-06 +20) UCA AUA UGC UGC UUC CCA AAC UGA AA  39 H3A (+37 +61) CUA GGA GGC GCC UCC CAU CCU GUA G  40 H5A (+20 +50) UUA UGA UUU CCA UCU ACG AUG UCA GUA CUU C  41 H5D (+25- 05) CUU ACC UGC CAG UGG AGG AUU AUA UUC CAA A  42 H5D (+10 -15) CAU CAG GAU UCU UAC CUG CCA GUG G  43 H5A (+10 +34) CGA UGU CAG UAC UUC CAA UAU UCA C  44 H5D (-04 -21) ACC AUU CAU CAG GAU UCU  45 H5D (+16 -02) ACC UGC CAG UGG AGG AUU  46 H5A (-07 +20) CCA AUA UUC ACU AAA UCA ACC UGU UAA  47 H5D (+18 -12) CAG GAU UGU UAC CUG CCA GUG GAG GAU UAU  48 H5A (+05 +35) ACG AUG UCA GUA CUU CCA AUA UUC ACU AAA U  49 H5A (+15 +45) AUU UCC AUC UAC GAU GUC AGU ACU UCC AAU A  50 H10A (-05 +16) CAG GAG CUU CCA AAU GCU GCA  51 H10A (-05 +24) CUU GUC UUC AGG AGC UUC CAA AUG CUG CA  52 H10A (+98 +119) UCC UCA GCA GAA AGA AGC CAC G  53 H10A (+130 +149) UUA GAA AUC UCU CCU UGU GC  54 H10A (-33 -14) UAA AUU GGG UGU UAC ACA AU  55 H11D (+26 +49) CCC UGA GGC AUU CCC AUC UUG AAU  56 H11D (+11 -09) AGG ACU UAC UUG CUU UGU UU  57 H11A (+118 +140) CUU GAA UUU AGG AGA UUC AUC UG  58 H11A (+75 +97) CAU CUU CUG AUA AUU UUC CUG UU  59 H12A (+52 +75) UCU UCU GUU UUU GUU AGC CAG UCA  60 H12A (-10 +10) UCU AUG UAA ACU GAA AAU UU  61 H12A (+11 +30) UUC UGG AGA UCC AUU AAA AC  62 H13A (+77 +100) CAG CAG UUG CGU GAU CUC CAC UAG  63 H13A (+55 +75) UUC AUC AAC UAC CAC CAC CAU  64 H13D (+06 -19) CUA AGC AAA AUA AUC UGA CCU UAA G  65 H14A (+37 +64) CUU GUA AAA GAA CCC AGC GGU CUU CUG U  66 H14A (+14 +35) CAU CUA CAG AUG UUU GCC CAU C  67 H14A (+51 +73) GAA GGA UGU CUU GUA AAA GAA CC  68 H14D (-02 +18) ACC UGU UCU UCA GUA AGA CG  69 H14D (+14 -10) CAU GAC ACA CCU GUU CUU CAG UAA  70 H14A (+61 +80) CAU UUG AGA AGG AUG UCU UG  71 H14A (-12 +12) AUC UCC CAA UAC CUG GAG AAG AGA  72 H15A (-12 +19) GCC AUG CAC UAA AAA GGC ACU GCA AGA CAU U  73 H15A (+48 +71) UCU UUA AAG CCA GUU GUG UGA AUC  74 H15A (+08 +28) UUU CUG AAA GCC AUG CAC UAA  75 H15D (+17 -08) GUA CAU ACG GCC AGU UUU UGA AGA C  76 H16A (-12 +19) CUA GAU CCG CUU UUA AAA CCU GUU AAA ACA A  77 H16A (-06 +25) UCU UUU CUA GAU CCG CUU UUA AAA CCU GUU A  78 H16A (-06 +19) CUA GAU CCG CUU UUA AAA CCU GUU A  79 H16A (+87 +109) CCG UCU UCU GGG UCA CUG ACU UA  80 H16A (-07 +19) CUA GAU CCG CUU UUA AAA CCU GUU AA  81 H16A (-07 +13) CCG CUU UUA AAA CCU GUU AA  82 H16A (+12 +37) UGG AUU GCU UUU UCU UUU CUA GAU CC  83 H16A (+92 +116) CAU GCU UCC GUC UUC UGG GUC ACU G  84 H16A (+45 +67) G AUC UUG UUU GAG UGA AUA CAG U  85 H16A (+105 +126) GUU AUC CAG CCA UGC UUC CGU C  86 H16D (+05 -20) UGA UAA UUG GUA UCA CUA ACC UGU G  87 H16D (+12 -11) GUA UCA CUA ACC UGU GCU GUA C  88 H19A (+35 +53) CUG CUG GCA UCU UGC AGU U  89 H19A (+35 +65) GCC UGA GCU GAU CUG CUG GCA UCU UGC AGU U  90 H20A (+44 +71) CUG GCA GAA UUC GAU CCA CCG GCU GUU C  91 H20A (+147 +168) CAG CAG UAG UUG UCA UCU GCU C  92 H20A (+185 +203) UGA UGG GGU GGU GGG UUG G  93 H20A (-08 +17) AUC UGC AUU AAC ACC CUC UAG AAA G  94 H20A (+30 +53) CCG GCU GUU CAG UUG UUC UGA GGC  95 H20A (-11 +17) AUG UGC AUU AAC ACC GUG UAG AAA GAA A  96 H20D (+08 -20) GAA GGA GAA GAG AUU GUU ACC UUA CAA A  97 H20A (+44 +63) AUU CGA UCC ACC GGG UGU UC  98 H20A (+149 +168) CAG CAG UAG UUG UGA UCU GC  99 H21A (-06 +16) GCC GGU UGA GUU CAU CCU GUG C 100 H21A (+85 +106) GUG CAU CCA GGA ACA UGG GUC C 101 H21A (+85 +108) GUC UGC AUG CAG GAA CAU GGG UC 102 H21A (+08 +31) GUU GAA GAU GUG AUA GCC GGU UGA 103 H21D (+18 -07) UAC UUA GUG UCU GUA GCU GUU UCU 104 H22A (+22 +45) CAC UCA UGG UCU CCU GAU AGC GCA 105 H22A (+125 +146) GUG CAA UUG CCC GAG UCU GUG C 106 H22A (+47 +69) ACU GCU GGA CCC AUG UCC UGA UG 107 H22A (+80 +101) CUA AGU UGA GGU AUG GAG AGU 108 H22D (+13 -11) UAU UGA CAG ACC UGC AAU UCC CC 109 H23A (+34 +59) ACA GUG GUG GUG AGA UAG UAU AGG CC 110 H23A (+18 +39) UAG GCC ACU UUG UUG GUG UUG C 111 H23A (+72 +90) UUG AGA GGG CGC UUU GUU C 112 H24A (+48 +70) GGG CAG GCC AUU CCU CCU UGA GA 113 H24A (-02 +22) UCU UGA GGG UUU GUA UGU GAU UCU 114 H25A (+9 +36) GUG GGG UGA AUU GUC UGA AUA UGA GUG 115 H25A (+131 +156) GUG UUG GCA CAU GUG AUG CCA GUG AG 116 H25D (+16 -08) GUC UAU ACC UGU UGG CAC AUG UGA 117 H26A (+132 +156) UGC UUU CUG UAA UUG AUG UGG AGU U 118 H26A (-07 +19) CCU CCU UUG UGG CAU AGA CCU UCC AC 119 H26A (+68 +92) UGU GUC AUG CAU UCG UGC AUG UCU G 120 H27A (+82 +106) UUA AGG CCU GUU GUG CUA CAG GUG G 121 H27A (-4 +19) GGG GCU CUU GUU UAG GUC UCU GA 122 H27D (+19 -03) GAC UUG CAA AGU GUU GCA UUU C 123 H28A (-05 +19) GCC AAC AUG CCC AAA GUU CCU AAG 124 H28A (+99 +124) CAG AGA UUU CCU CAG CUC CGC CAG GA 125 H28D (+16 -05) GUU ACA UCU AGC ACC UGA GAG 126 H29A (+57 +81) UCC GCC AUG UGU UAG GGU GUG UGC C 127 H29A (+18 +42) AUU UGG GUU AUG GUG UGA AUG UCG C 128 H29D (+17 -05) CAU ACC UCU UGA UGU AGU UCC C 129 H30A (+122 +147) CAU UUG AGC UGC GUC CAC GUU GUC UG 130 H30A (+25 +50) UCC UGG GCA GAC UGG AUG CUC UGU UC 131 H30D (+19 -04) UUG CCU GGG CUU CCU GAG GCA UU 132 H31D (+06 -18) UUC UGA AAU AAC AUA UAC CUG UGC 133 H31D (+03 -22) UAG UUU CUG AAA UAA CAU AUA CCU G 134 H31A (+05 +25) GAC UUG UCA AAU CAG AUU GGA 135 H31D (+04 -20) GUU UCU GAA AUA ACA UAU ACC UGU 136 H32D (+04 -16) CAC CAG AAA UAC AUA CCA CA 137 H32A (+151 +170) CAA UGA UUU AGC UGU GAC UG 138 H32A (+10 +32) CGA AAC UUC AUG GAG ACA UCU UG 139 H32A (+49 +73) CUU GUA GAC GGU GGU CAA AAU UGG C 140 H33D (+09 -11) CAU GCA CAC ACC UUU GGU CC 141 H33A (+53 +76) UCU GUA CAA UCU GAC GUG CAG UCU 142 H33A (+30 +56) GUG UUU AUG ACC AUU UCC ACU UCA GAC 143 H33A (+64 +88) CCG UCU GGU UUU UCU GUA CAA UCU G 144 H34A (+83 +104) UCC AUA UCU GUA GGU GCC AGC C 145 H34A (+143 +165) CCA GGG AAC UUC AGA AUG CAA AU 146 H34A (-20 +10) UUU CUG UUA CCU GAA AAG AAU UAU AAU GAA 147 H34A (+46 +70) CAU UCA UUU CCU UUC GCA UCU UAC G 148 H34A (+95 +120) UGA UCU CUU UGU CAA UUC CAU AUG UG 149 H34D (+10 -20) UUC AGU GAU AUA GGU UUU ACC UUU CCC CAG 150 H34A (+72 +96) CUG UAG CUG CCA GCC AUU CUG UCA AG 151 H35A (+141 +161) UCU UCU GGU GGG GAG GUG ACA 152 H35A (+116 +135) CCA GUU ACU AUU CAG AAG AC 153 H35A (+24 +43) UCU UCA GGU GCA CCU UCU GU 154 H36A (+26 +50) UGU GAU GUG GUG CAC AUU CUG GUG A 155 H36A (-02 +18) CCA UGU GUU UCU GGU AUU CC 156 H37A (+26 +50) CGU GUA GAG UCC ACC UUU GGG CGU A 157 H37A (+82 +105) UAC UAA UUU CCU GCA GUG GUC ACC 158 H37A (+134 +157) UUC UGU GUG AAA UGG CUG CAA AUG 159 H38A (-01 +19) CCU UCA AAG GAA UGG AGG CC 160 H38A (+59 +83) UGC UGA AUU UCA GCC UCC AGU GGU U 161 H38A (+88 +112) UGA AGU CUU CCU CUU UCA GAU UCA C 162 H39A (+62 +85) CUG GGU UUC UCU CAU CUG UGA UUC 163 H39A (+39 +58) GUU GUA AGU UGU GUG CUG UU 164 H39A (+102 +121) UUG UCU GUA ACA GGU GGU GU 165 H39D (+10 -10) GGU CUA AUA CCU UGA GAG CA 166 H40A (-05 +17) CUU UGA GAC GUG AAA UCC UGU U 167 H40A (+129 +153) CUU UAU UUU CCU UUC AUG UCU GGG C 168 H42A (-04 +23) AUG GUU UCU UCA GGG ACA GUG UGC UGG 169 H42A (+86 +109) GGG CUU GUG AGA CAU GAG UGA UUU 170 H42D (+19 -02) A CCU UCA GAG GAC UCC UCU UGC 171 H43D (+10 -15) UAU GUG UUA CCU ACC CUU GUC GGU C 172 H43A (+101 +120) GGA GAG AGC UUC CUG UAG CU 173 H43A (+78 +100) UCA CCC UUU CCA CAG GCG UUG CA 174 H44A (+85 +104) UUU GUG UCU UUC UGA GAA AC 175 H44D (+10 -10) AAA GAC UUA CCU UAA GAU AC 176 H44A (-06 +14) AUG UGU CAA AUG GCC UGC AG 177 H46D (+16 -04) UUA CCU UGA CUU GCU CAA GC 178 H46A (+90 +109) UCC AGG UUC AAG UGG GAU AC 179 H47A (+76 +100) GCU CUU CUG GGC UUA UGG GAG CAC U 180 H47D (+25 -02) ACC UUU AUG CAC UGG AGA UUU GUC UGC 181 H47A (-9 +12) UUC CAC CAG UAA CUG AAA CAG 182 H50A (+02 +30) CCA GUC AGA GCU CAG AUG UUC UAA CUU CC 183 H50A (+07 +33) CUU CCA CUG AGA GCU CAG AUG UUC UAA 184 H51A (-01 +25) ACC AGA GUA ACA GUC UGA GUA GGA GC 185 H51D (+16 -07) GUC AUA CCU UCU GCU UGA UGA UC 186 H51A (+111 +134) UUC UGU CCA AGC CCG GUU GAA AUG 187 H51A (+66 +95) GUC CAA CAU CAA GGA AGA UGG CAU UUC UAG 188 H51D (+08 -17) AUG AUU UUU UCU CAU ACC UUC UGC U 189 H51A/D (+08 -17) AUG AUU UUU UCU CAU ACC UUC UGC & (-15+) UAG GAG CUA AAA 190 H51A (+175 +195) CAC CCA CCA UCA CCC UCU GUG 191 H51A (+199 +220) AUG AUG UCG UUG AUA UCC UCA A 192 H52A (-07 +14) UCC UGC AUU GUU GCC UGU AAG 193 H52A (+12 +41) UCC AAC UGG GGA CGC GUC UGU UCC AAA UCC 194 H52A (+17 +37) ACU GGG GAC GCC UCU GUU CCA 195 H52A (+93 +112) CCG UAA UGA UUG UUC UAG CC 196 H52D (+05 -15) UGU UAA AAA ACU UAC UUC GA 197 H53A (+45 +69) CAU UCA ACU GUU GCC UCC GGU UCU G 198 H53A (+39 +62) CUG UUG CCU CCG GUU CUG AAG GUG 199 H53A (+39 +69) CAU UCA ACU GUU GCC UCC GGU UCU GAA GGU G 200 H53D (+14 -07) UAC UAA CCU UGG UUU CUG UGA 201 H53A (+23 +47) CUG AAG GUG UUC UUG UAC UUC AUC C 202 H53A (+150 +176) UGU AUA GGG ACC CUC CUU CCA UGA CUC 203 H53D (+20 -05) CUA ACC UUG GUU UCU GUG AUU UUC U 204 H53D (+09 -18) GGU AUC UUU GAU ACU AAC CUU GGU UUC 205 H53A (-12 +10) AUU CUU UCA ACU AGA AUA AAA G 206 H53A (-07 +18) GAU UCU GAA UUC UUU CAA CUA GAA U 207 H53A (+07 +26) AUC CCA CUG AUU CUG AAU UC 208 H53A (+124 +145) UUG GCU CUG GCC UGU CCU AAG A 209 H46A (+86 +115) CUC UUU UCC AGG UUC AAG UGG GAU ACU AGC 210 H46A (+107 +137) CAA GCU UUU CUU UUA GUU GCU GCU CUU UUC C 211 H46A (-10 +20) UAU UCU UUU GUU CUU CUA GCC UGG AGA AAG 212 H46A (+50 +77) CUG CUU CCU CCA ACC AUA AAA CAA AUU C 213 H45A (-06 +20) CCA AUG CCA UCC UGG AGU UCC UGU AA 214 H45A (+91 +110) UCC UGU AGA AUA CUG GCA UC 215 H45A (+125 +151) UGC AGA CCU CCU GCC ACC GCA GAU UCA 216 H45D (+16 -04) CUA CCU CUU UUU UCU GUC UG 217 H45A (+71 +90) UGU UUU UGA GGA UUG CUG AA SEQ ID Description Sequence NO H53A (+33 +60) GTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTG 218 H53A (+23 +47) CTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTACTTCATCC 219 H53A (+33 +62) CTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTG 220 H53A (+33 +65) CAACTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTG 221 H53A (+31 +55) CTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTA 222 H53A (+46 +73) ATTTCATTCAACTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCT 223 H53A (+22 +46) TGAAGGTGTTCTTGTACTTCATCCC 224 H53A (+46 +69) CATTCAACTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCT 225 H53A (+40 +61) TGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGT 226 H53A (+30 +60) GTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTC 227 H53A (+30 +57) GCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTAC 228 H53A (+30 +56) CCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTAC 229 H53A (+30 +55) CTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTAC 230 H53A (+33 +57) GCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTG 231 H44A (-07 +17) CAGATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCAGG 232 H44A (-07 +20) CAACAGATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCAGG 233 H44A (-07 +22) CTCAACAGATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCAGG 234 H44A (+77 +101) GTGTCTTTCTGAGAAACTGTTCAGC 235 H44A (+64 +91) GAGAAACTGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCAC 236 H44A (+62 +89) GAAACTGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCACTG 237 H44A (+62 +85) CTGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCACTG 238 H44A (-06 +14) ATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCAG 239 H44A (+85+104) TTTGTGTCTTTCTGAGAAAC 240 H44A (+61 +84) TGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCACTGA 241 H44A (-10 +15) GATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCAGGTAA 242 H44A (+64 +88) AAACTGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCAC 243 H44A (+79 +103) TTGTGTCTTTCTGAGAAACTGTTCA 244 H44A (-06 +20) CAACAGATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCAG 245 H44A (-09 +17) CAGATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCAGGTA 246 H44A (+59 +85) CTGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCACTGATT 247 H44A (+59 +89) GAAACTGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCACTGATT 248 H44A (+65 +90) AGAAACTGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCA 249 SEQ ID Name Sequences NO. Oligomer Targeting Sequences (5′ to 3′): Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.001 CTGCAGGTAAAAGCATATGGATCAA 250 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.002 ATCGCCTGCAGGTAAAAGCATATGG 251 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.003 GTCAAATCGCCTGCAGGTAAAAGCA 252 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.005 CAACAGATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCA 253 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.006 TTTCTCAACAGATCTGTCAAATCGC 254 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.007 CCATTTCTCAACAGATCTGTCAAAT 255 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.008 ATAATGAAAACGCCGCCATTTCTCA 256 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.009 AAATATCTTTATATCATAATGAAAA 257 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.010 TGTTAGCCACTGATTAAATATCTTT 258 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.013 CCAATTCTCAGGAATTTGTGTCTTT 259 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.014 GTATTTAGCATGTTCCCAATTCTCA 260 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.015 CTTAAGATACCATTTGTATTTAGCA 261 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.016 CTTACCTTAAGATACCATTTGTATT 262 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.017 AAAGACTTACCTTAAGATACCATTT 263 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.018 AAATCAAAGACTTACCTTAAGATAC 264 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.019 AAAACAAATCAAAGACTTACCTTAA 265 Hu.DMD.Exon44.25.020 TCGAAAAAACAAATCAAAGACTTAC 266 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.001 CTGTAAGATACCAAAAAGGcAAAAc 267 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.002 CCTGTAAGATACCAAAAAGGCAAAA 268 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.002.2 AGTTCCTGTAAGATACCAAAAAGGC 269 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.003 GAGTTCCTGTAAGATACCAAAAAGG 270 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.003.2 CCTGGAGTTCCTGTAAGATACCAAA 271 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.004 TCCTGGAGTTCCTGTAAGATACCAA 272 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.004.2 GCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGTAAGATA 273 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.005 TGCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGTAAGAT 274 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.005.2 CCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGTA 275 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.006 CCCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGT 276 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.006.2 GCTGCCCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTTC 277 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.007 CGCTGCCCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTT 278 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.008 AACAGTTTGCCGCTGCCCAATGCCA 279 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.008.2 CTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCTGCCCAA 280 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.009 GTTGCATTCAATGTTCTGACAACAG 281 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.010 GCTGAATTATTTCTTCCCCAGTTGC 282 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.010.2 ATTATTTCTTCCCCAGTTGCATTCA 283 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.011 GGCATCTGTTTTTGAGGATTGCTGA 284 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.011.2 TTTGAGGATTGCTGAATTATTTCTT 285 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.012 AATTTTTCCTGTAGAATACTGGCAT 286 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.012.2 ATACTGGCATCTGTTTTTGAGGATT 287 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.013 ACCGCAGATTCAGGCTTCCCAATTT 288 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.014 CTGTTTGCAGACCTCCTGCCACCGC 289 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.014.2 AGATTCAGGCTTCCCAATTTTTCCT 290 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.015 CTCTTTTTTCTGTCTGACAGCTGTT 291 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.015.2 ACCTCCTGCCACCGCAGATTCAGGC 292 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.016 CCTACCTCTTTTTTCTGTCTGACAG 293 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.016.2 GACAGCTGTTTGCAGACCTCCTGCC 294 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.017 GTCGCCCTACCTCTITTTTCTGTCT 295 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.018 GATCTGTCGCCCTACCTCTTTTTTC 296 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.019 TATTAGATCTGTCGCCCTACCTCTT 297 Hu.DMD.Exon45.25.020 ATTCCTATTAGATCTGTCGCCCTAC 298 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.001 AGATACCAAAAAGGCAAAAC 299 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.002 AAGATACCAAAAAGGCAAAA 300 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.003 CCTGTAAGATACCAAAAAGG 301 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.004 GAGTTCCTGTAAGATACCAA 302 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.005 TCCTGGAGTTCCTGTAAGAT 303 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.006 TGCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGT 304 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.007 CCCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTT 305 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.008 CGCTGCCCAATGCCATCCTG 306 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.009 CTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCTG 307 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.010 GTTGCATTCAATGTTCTGAC 308 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.011 ATTATTTCTTCCCCAGTTGC 309 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.012 TTTGAGGATTGCTGAATTAT 310 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.013 ATACTGGCATCTGTTTTTGA 311 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.014 AATTTTTCCTGTAGAATACT 312 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.015 AGATTCAGGCTTCCCAATTT 313 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.016 ACCTCCTGCCACCGCAGATT 314 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.017 GACAGCTGTTTGCAGACCTC 315 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.018 CTCTTTTTTCTGTCTGACAG 316 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.019 CCTACCTCTTTTTTCTGTCT 317 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.020 GTCGCCCTACCTCTTTTTTC 318 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.021 GATCTGTCGCCCTACCTCTT 319 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.022 TATTAGATCTGTCGCCCTAC 320 Hu.DMD.Exon45.20.023 ATTCCTATTAGATCTGTCGC 321 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.001 GGGGGATTTGAGAAAATAAAATTAC 322 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.002 ATTTGAGAAAATAAAATTACCTTGA 323 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.002.2 CTAGCCTGGAGAAAGAAGAATAAAA 324 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.003 AGAAAATAAAATTACCTTGACTTGC 325 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.003.2 TTCTTCTAGCCTGGAGAAAGAAGAA 326 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.004 ATAAAATTACCTTGACTTGCTCAAG 327 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.004.2 TTTTGTTCTTCTAGCCTGGAGAAAG 328 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.005 ATTACCTTGACTTGCTCAAGCTTTT 329 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.005.2 TATTCTTTTGTTCTTCTAGCCTGGA 330 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.006 CTTGACTTGCTCAAGCTTTTCTTTT 331 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.006.2 CAAGATATTCTTTTGTTCTTCTAGC 332 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.007 CTTTTAGTTGCTGCTCTTTTCCAGG 333 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.008 CCAGGTTCAAGTGGGATACTAGCAA 334 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.008.2 ATCTCTTTGAAATTCTGACAAGATA 335 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.009 AGCAATGTTATCTGCTTCCTCCAAC 336 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.009.2 AACAAATTCATTTAAATCTCTTTGA 337 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.010 CCAACCATAAAACAAATTCATTTAA 338 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.010.2 TTCCTCCAACCATAAAACAAATTCA 339 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.011 TTTAAATCTCTTTGAAATTCTGACA 340 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.012 TGACAAGATATTCTTTTGTTCTTCT 341 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.012.2 TTCAAGTGGGATACTAGCAATGTTA 342 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.013 AGATATTCTTTTGTTCTTCTAGCCT 343 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.013.2 CTGCTCTTTTCCAGGTTCAAGTGGG 344 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.014 TTCTTTTGTTCTTCTAGCCTGGAGA 345 Hu.DMD.Exon46,25.014.2 CTTTTCTTTTAGTTGCTGCTCTTTT 346 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.015 TTGTTCTTCTAGCCTGGAGAAAGAA 347 Hu.DMD,Exon46.25.016 CTTCTAGCCTGGAGAAAGAAGAATA 348 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.017 AGCCTGGAGAAAGAAGAATAAAATT 349 Hu.DMD.Exon46.25.018 CTGGAGAAAGAAGAATAAAATTGTT 350 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.001 GAAAGAAGAATAAAATTGTT 351 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.002 GGAGAAAGAAGAATAAAATT 352 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.003 AGCCTGGAGAAAGAAGAATA 353 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.004 CTTCTAGCCTGGAGAAAGAA 354 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.005 TTGTTCTTCTAGCCTGGAGA 355 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.006 TTCTTTTGTTCTTCTAGCCT 356 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.007 TGACAAGATATTCTTTTGTT 357 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.008 ATCTCTTTGAAATTCTGACA 358 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.009 AACAAATTCATTTAAATCTC 359 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.010 TTCCTCCAACCATAAAACAA 360 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.011 AGCAATGTTATCTGCTTCCT 361 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.012 TTCAAGTGGGATACTAGCAA 362 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.013 CTGCTCTTTTCCAGGTTCAA 363 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.014 CTTTTCTTTTAGTTGCTGCT 364 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.015 CTTGACTTGCTCAAGCTTTT 365 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.016 ATTACCTTGACTTGCTCAAG 366 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.017 ATAAAATTACCTTGACTTGC 367 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.018 AGAAAATAAAATTACCTTGA 368 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.019 ATTTGAGAAAATAAAATTAC 369 Hu.DMD.Exon46.20.020 GGGGGATTTGAGAAAATAAA 370 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.001 CTGAAACAGACAAATGCAACAACGT 371 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.002 AGTAACTGAAACAGACAAATGCAAC 372 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.003 CCACCAGTAACTGAAACAGACAAAT 373 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.004 CTCTTCCACCAGTAACTGAAACAGA 374 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.005 GGCAACTCTTCCACCAGTAACTGAA 375 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.006 GCAGGGGCAACTCTTCCACCAGTAA 376 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.007 CTGGCGCAGGGGCAACTCTTCCACC 377 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.008 TTTAATTGTTTGAGAATTCCCTGGC 378 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.008.2 TTGTTTGAGAATTCCCTGGCGCAGG 379 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.009 GCACGGGTCCTCCAGTTTCATTTAA 380 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.009.2 TCCAGTTTCATTTAATTGTTTGAGA 381 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.010 GCTTATGGGAGCACTTACAAGCACG 382 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.010.2 TACAAGCACGGGTCCTCCAGTTTCA 383 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.011 AGTTTATCTTGCTCTTCTGGGCTTA 384 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.012 TCTGCTTGAGCTTATTTTCAAGTTT 385 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.012.2 ATCTTGCTCTTCTGGGCTTATGGGA 386 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.013 CTTTATCCACTGGAGATTTGTCTGC 387 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.013.2 CTTATTTTCAAGTTTATCTTGCTCT 388 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.014 CTAACCTTTATCCACTGGAGATTTG 389 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.014.2 ATTTGTCTGCTTGAGCTTATTTTCA 390 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.015 AATGTCTAACCTTTATCCACTGGAG 391 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.016 TGGTTAATGTCTAACCTTTATCCAC 392 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.017 AGAGATGGTTAATGTCTAACCTTTA 393 Hu.DMD.Exon47.25.018 ACGGAAGAGATGGTTAATGTCTAAC 394 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.001 ACAGACAAATGCAACAACGT 395 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.002 CTGAAACAGACAAATGCAAC 396 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.003 AGTAACTGAAACAGACAAAT 397 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.004 CCACCAGTAACTGAAACAGA 398 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.005 CTCTTCCACCAGTAACTGAA 399 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.006 GGCAACTCTTCCACCAGTAA 400 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.007 CTGGCGCAGGGGCAACTCTT 401 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.008 TTGTTTGAGAATTCCCTGGC 402 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.009 TCCAGTTTCATTTAATTGTT 403 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.010 TACAAGCACGGGTCCTCCAG 404 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.011 GCTTATGGGAGCACTTACAA 405 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.012 ATCTTGCTCTTCTGGGCTTA 406 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.013 CTTATTTTCAAGTTTATCTT 407 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.014 ATTTGTCTGCTTGAGCTTAT 408 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.015 CTTTATCCACTGGAGATTTG 409 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.016 CTAACCTTTATCCACTGGAG 410 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.017 AATGTCTAACCTTTATCCAC 411 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.018 TGGTTAATGTCTAACCTTTA 412 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.019 AGAGATGGTTAATGTCTAAC 413 Hu.DMD.Exon47.20.020 ACGGAAGAGATGGTTAATGT 414 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.001 CTGAAAGGAAAATACATTTTAAAAA 415 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.002 CCTGAAAGGAAAATACATTTTAAAA 416 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.002.2 GAAACCTGAAAGGAAAATACATTTT 417 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.003 GGAAACCTGAAAGGAAAATACATTT 418 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.003.2 CTCTGGAAACCTGAAAGGAAAATAC 419 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.004 GCTCTGGAAACCTGAAAGGAAAATA 420 Hu.DMD.F,xon48.25.004.2 TAAAGCTCTGGAAACCTGAAAGGAA 421 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.005 GTAAAGCTCTGGAAACCTGAAAGGA 422 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.005.2 TCAGGTAAAGCTCTGGAAACCTGAA 423 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.006 CTCAGGTAAAGCTCTGGAAACCTGA 424 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.006.2 GTTTCTCAGGTAAAGCTCTGGAAAC 425 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.007 TGTTTCTCAGGTAAAGCTCTGGAAA 426 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.007.2 AATTTCTCCTTGTTTCTCAGGTAAA 427 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.008 TTTGAGCTTCAATTTCTCCTTGTTT 428 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.008 TTTTATTTGAGCTTCAATTTCTCCT 429 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.009 AAGCTGCCCAAGGTCTTTTATTTGA 430 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.010 AGGTCTTCAAGCTTTTTTTCAAGCT 431 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.010.2 TTCAAGCTTTTTTTCAAGCTGCCCA 432 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.011 GATGATTTAACTGCTCTTCAAGGTC 433 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.011.2 CTGCTCTTCAAGGTCTTCAAGCTTT 434 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.012 AGGAGATAACCACAGCAGCAGATGA 435 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.012.2 CAGCAGATGATTTAACTGCTCTTCA 436 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.013 ATTTCCAACTGATTCCTAATAGGAG 437 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.014 CTTGGTTTGGTTGGTTATAAATTTC 438 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.014.2 CAACTGATTCCTAATAGGAGATAAC 439 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.015 CTTAACGTCAAATGGTCCTTCTTGG 440 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.015.2 TTGGTTATAAATTTCCAACTGATTC 441 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.016 CCTACCTTAACGTCAAATGGTCCTT 442 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.016.2 TCCTTCTTGGTTTGGTTGGTTATAA 443 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.017 AGTTCCCTACCTTAACGTCAAATGG 444 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.018 CAAAAAGTTCCCTACCTTAACGTCA 445 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.019 TAAAGCAAAAAGTTCCCTACCTTAA 446 Hu.DMD.Exon48.25.020 ATATTTAAAGCAAAAAGTTCCCTAC 447 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.001 AGGAAAATACATTTTAAAAA 448 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.002 AAGGAAAATACATTTTAAAA 449 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.003 CCTGAAAGGAAAATACATTT 450 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.004 GGAAACCTGAAAGGAAAATA 451 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.005 GCTCTGGAAACCTGAAAGGA 452 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.006 GTAAAGCTCTGGAAACCTGA 453 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.007 CTCAGGTAAAGCTCTGGAAA 454 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.008 AATTTCTCCTTGTTTCTCAG 455 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.009 TTTTATTTGAGCTTCAATTT 456 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.010 AAGCTGCCCAAGGTCTTTTA 457 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.011 TTCAAGCTTTTTTTCAAGCT 458 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.012 CTGCTCTTCAAGGTCTTCAA 459 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.013 CAGCAGATGATTTAACTGCT 460 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.014 AGGAGATAACCACAGCAGCA 461 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.015 CAACTGATTCCTAATAGGAG 462 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.016 TTGGTTATAAATTTCCAACT 463 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.017 TCCTTCTTGGTTTGGTTGGT 464 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.018 CTTAACGTCAAATGGTCCTT 465 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.019 CCTACCTTAACGTCAAATGG 466 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.020 AGTTCCCTACCTTAACGTCA 467 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.021 CAAAAAGTTCCCTACCTTAA 468 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.022 TAAAGCAAAAAGTTCCCTAC 469 Hu.DMD.Exon48.20.023 ATATTTAAAGCAAAAAGTTC 470 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.001 CTGGGGAAAAGAACCCATATAGTGC 471 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.002 TCCTGGGGAAAAGAACCCATATAGT 472 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.002.2 GTTTCCTGGGGAAAAGAACCCATAT 473 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.003 CAGTTTCCTGGGGAAAAGAACCCAT 474 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.003.2 TTTCAGTTTCCTGGGGAAAAGAACC 475 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.004 TATTTCAGTTTCCTGGGGAAAAGAA 476 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.004.2 TGCTATTTCAGTTTCCTGGGGAAAA 477 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.005 ACTGCTATTTCAGTTTCCTGGGGAA 478 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.005.2 TGAACTGCTATTTCAGTTTCCTGGG 479 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.006 CTTGAACTGCTATTTCAGTTTCCTG 480 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.006.2 TAGCTTGAACTGCTATTTCAGTTTC 481 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.007 TTTAGCTTGAACTGCTATTTCAGTT 482 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.008 TTCCACATCCGGTTGTTTAGCTTGA 483 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.009 TGCCCTTTAGACAAAATCTCTTCCA 484 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.009.2 TTTAGACAAAATCTCTTCCACATCC 485 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.010 GTTTTTCCTTGTACAAATGCTGCCC 486 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.010.2 GTACAAATGCTGCCCTTTAGACAAA 487 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.011 CTTCACTGGCTGAGTGGCTGGTTTT 488 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.011.2 GGCTGGTTTTTCCTTGTACAAATGC 489 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.012 ATTACCTTCACTGGCTGAGTGGCTG 490 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.013 GCTTCATTACCTTCACTGGCTGAGT 491 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.014 AGGTTGCTTCATTACCTTCACTGGC 492 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.015 GCTAGAGGTTGCTTCATTACCTTCA 493 Hu.DMD.Exon49.25.016 ATATTGCTAGAGGTTGCTTCATTAC 494 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.001 GAAAAGAACCCATATAGTGC 495 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.002 GGGAAAAGAACCCATATAGT 496 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.003 TCCTGGGGAAAAGAACCCAT 497 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.004 CAGTTTCCTGGGGAAAAGAA 498 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.005 TATTTCAGTTTCCTGGGGAA 499 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.006 ACTGCTATTTCAGTTTCCTG 500 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.007 CTTGAACTGCTATTTCAGTT 501 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.008 TTTAGCTTGAACTGCTATTT 502 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.009 TTCCACATCCGGTTGTTTAG 503 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.010 TTTAGACAAAATCTCTTCCA 504 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.011 GTACAAATGCTGCCCTTTAG 505 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.012 GGCTGGTTTTTCCTTGTACA 506 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.013 CTTCACTGGCTGAGTGGCTG 507 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.014 ATTACCTTCACTGGCTGAGT 508 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.015 GCTTCATTACCTTCACTGGC 509 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.016 AGGTTGCTTCATTACCTTCA 510 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.017 GCTAGAGGTTGCTTCATTAC 511 Hu.DMD.Exon49.20.018 ATATTGCTAGAGGTTGCTTC 512 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.001 CTTTAACAGAAAAGCATACACATTA 513 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.002 TCCTCTTTAACAGAAAAGCATACAC 514 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.002.2 TTCCTCTTTAACAGAAAAGCATACA 515 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.003 TAACTTCCTCTTTAACAGAAAAGCA 516 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.003.2 CTAACTTCCTCTTTAACAGAAAAGC 517 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.004 TCTTCTAACTTCCTCTTTAACAGAA 518 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.004.2 ATCTTCTAACTTCCTCTTTAACAGA 519 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.005 TCAGATCTTCTAACTTCCTCTTTAA 520 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.005.2 CTCAGATCTTCTAACTTCCTCTTTA 521 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.006 AGAGCTCAGATCTTCTAACTTCCTC 522 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.006.2 CAGAGCTCAGATCTTCTAACTTCCT 523 NG-08-0731 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.007 CACTCAGAGCTCAGATCTTCTACT 524 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.007.2 CCTTCCACTCAGAGCTCAGATCTTC 525 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.008 GTAAACGGTTTACCGCCTTCCACTC 526 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.009 CTTTGCCCTCAGCTCTTGAAGTAAA 527 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.009.2 CCCTCAGCTCTTGAAGTAAACGGTT 528 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.010 CCAGGAGCTAGGTCAGGCTGCTTTG 529 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.010.2 GGTCAGGCTGCTTTGCCCTCAGCTC 530 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.011 AGGCTCCAATAGTGGTCAGTCCAGG 531 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.011.2 TCAGTCCAGGAGCTAGGTCAGGCTG 532 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.012 CTTACAGGCTCCAATAGTGGTCAGT 533 AVI-5038 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.013 GTATACTTACAGGCTCCAATAGTGG 534 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.014 ATCCAGTATACTTACAGGCTCCAAT 535 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.015 ATGGGATCCAGTATACTTACAGGCT 536 NG-08-0741 Hu.DMD.Exon50.25.016 AGAGAATGGGATCCAGTATACTTAC 537 NG-08-0742 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.001 ACAGAAAAGCATACACATTA 538 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.002 TTTAACAGAAAAGCATACAC 539 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.003 TCCTCTTTAACAGAAAAGCA 540 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.004 TAACTTCCTCTTTAACAGAA 541 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.005 TCTTCTAACTTCCTCTTTAA 542 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.006 TCAGATCTTCTAACTTCCTC 543 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.007 CCTTCCACTCAGAGCTCAGA 544 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.008 GTAAACGGTTTACCGCCTTC 545 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.009 CCCTCAGCTCTTGAAGTAAA 546 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.010 GGTCAGGCTGCTTTGCCCTC 547 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.011 TCAGTCCAGGAGCTAGGTCA 548 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.012 AGGCTCCAATAGTGGTCAGT 549 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.013 CTTACAGGCTCCAATAGTGG 550 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.014 GTATACTTACAGGCTCCAAT 551 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.015 ATCCAGTATACTTACAGGCT 552 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.016 ATGGGATCCAGTATACTTAC 553 Hu.DMD.Exon50.20.017 AGAGAATGGGATCCAGTATA 554 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.001-44 CTAAAATATTTTGGGTTTTTGCAAAA 555 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.002-45 GCTAAAATATTTTGGGTTTTTGCAAA 556 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.002.2-46 TAGGAGCTAAAATATTTTGGGTTTTT 557 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.003 AGTAGGAGCTAAAATATTTTGGGTT 558 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.003.2 TGAGTAGGAGCTAAAATATTTTGGG 559 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.004 CTGAGTAGGAGCTAAAATATTTTGGG 560 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.004.2 CAGTCTGAGTAGGAGCTAAAATATT 561 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.005 ACAGTCTGAGTAGGAGCTAAAATATT 562 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.005.2 GAGTAACAGTCTGAGTAGGAGCTAAA 563 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.006 CAGAGTAACAGTCTGAGTAGGAGCT 564 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.006.2 CACCAGAGTAACAGTCTGAGTAGGAG 565 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.007 GTCACCAGAGTAACAGTCTGAGTAG 566 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.007.2 AACCACAGGTTGTGTCACCAGAGTAA 567 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.008 GTTGTGTCACCAGAGTAACAGTCTG 568 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.009 TGGCAGTTTCCTTAGTAACCACAGGT 569 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.010 ATTTCTAGTTTGGACATGGCACTTTC 570 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.010.2 GGAAGATGGCATTTCTAGTTTGGAG 571 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.011 CATCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCTAGTT 572 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.011.2 GAGCAGGTACCTCCAACATCAAGGAA 573 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.012 ATCTGCCAGAGCAGGTACCTCCAAC 574 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.013 AAGTTCTGTCCAAGCCCGGTTGAAAT 575 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.013.2 CGGTTGAAATCTGCCAGAGCAGGTAC 576 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.014 GAGAAAGCCAGTCGGTAAGTTCTGTC 577 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.014.2 GTCGGTAAGTTCTGTCCAAGCCCGG 578 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.015 ATAACTTGATCAAGCAGAGAAAGCCA 579 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.015.2 AAGCAGAGAAAGCCAGTCGGTAAGT 580 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.016 CACCCTCTGTGATTTTATAACTTGAT 581 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.017 CAAGGTCACCCACCATCACCCTCTGT 582 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.017.2 CATCACCCTCTGTGATTTTATAACT 583 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.018 CTTCTGCTTGATGATCATCTCGTTGA 584 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.019 CCTTCTGCTTGATGATCATCTCGTTG 585 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.019.2 ATCTCGTTGATATCCTCAAGGTCACC 586 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.020 TCATACCTTCTGCTTGATGATCATCT 587 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.020.2 TCATTTTTTCTCATACCTTCTGCTTG 588 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.021 TTTTCTCATACCTTCTGCTTGATGAT 589 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.022 TTTTATCATTTTTTCTCATACCTTCT 590 Hu.DMD.Exon51.25.023 CCAACTTTTATCATTTTTTCTCATAC 591 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.001 ATATTTTGGGTTTTTGCAAA 592 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.002 AAAATATTTTGGGTTTTTGC 593 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.003 GAGCTAAAATATTTTGGGTT 594 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.004 AGTAGGAGCTAAAATATTTT 595 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.005 GTCTGAGTAGGAGCTAAAAT 596 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.006 TAACAGTCTGAGTAGGAGCT 597 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.007 CAGAGTAACAGTCTGAGTAG 598 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.008 CACAGGTTGTGTCACCAGAG 599 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.009 AGTTTCCTTAGTAACCACAG 600 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.010 TAGTTTGGAGATGGCAGTTT 601 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.011 GGAAGATGGCATTTCTAGTT 602 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.012 TACCTCCAACATCAAGGAAG 603 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.013 ATCTGCCAGAGCAGGTACCT 604 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.014 CCAAGCCCGGTTGAAATCTG 605 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.015 GTCGGTAAGTTCTGTCCAAG 606 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.016 AAGCAGAGAAAGCCAGTCGG 607 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.017 TTTTATAACTTGATCAAGCA 608 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.018 CATCACCCTCTGTGATTTTA 609 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.019 CTCAAGGTCACCCACCATCA 610 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.020 CATCTCGTTGATATCCTCAA 611 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.021 CTTCTGCTTGATGATCATCT 612 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.022 CATACCTTCTGCTTGATGAT 613 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.023 TTTCTCATACCTTCTGCTTG 614 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.024 CATTTTTTCTCATACCTTCT 615 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.025 TTTATCATTTTTTCTCATAC 616 Hu.DMD.Exon51.20.026 CAACTTTTATCATTTTTTCT 617 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.001 CTGTAAGAACAAATATCCCTTAGTA 618 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.002 TGCCTGTAAGAACAAATATCCCTTA 619 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.002.2 GTTGCCTGTAAGAACAAATATCCCT 620 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.003 ATTGTTGCCTGTAAGAACAAATATC 621 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.003.2 GCATTGTTGCCTGTAAGAACAAATA 622 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.004 CCTGCATTGTTGCCTGTAAGAACAA 623 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.004.2 ATCCTGCATTGTTGCCTGTAAGAAC 624 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.005 CAAATCCTGCATTGTTGCCTGTAAG 625 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.005.2 TCCAAATCCTGCATTGTTGCCTGTA 626 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.006 TGTTCCAAATCCTGCATTGTTGCCT 627 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.006.2 TCTGTTCCAAATCCTGCATTGTTGC 628 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.007 AACTGGGGACGCCTCTGTTCCAAAT 629 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.007.2 GCCTCTGTTCCAAATCCTGCATTGT 630 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.008 CAGCGGTAATGAGTTCTTCCAACTG 631 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.008.2 CTTCCAACTGGGGACGCCTCTGTTC 632 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.009 CTTGTTTTTCAAATTTTGGGCAGCG 633 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.010 CTAGCCTCTTGATTGCTGGTCTTGT 634 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.010.2 TTTTCAAATTTTGGGCAGCGGTAAT 635 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.011 TTCGATCCGTAATGATTGTTCTAGC 636 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.011.2 GATTGCTGGTCTTGTTTTTCAAATT 637 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.012 CTTACTTCGATCCGTAATGATTGTT 638 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.012.2 TTGTTCTAGCCTCTTGATTGCTGGT 639 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.013 AAAAACTTACTTCGATCCGTAATGA 640 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.014 TGTTAAAAAACTTACTTCGATCCGT 641 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.015 ATGCTTGTTAAAAAACTTACTTCGA 642 Hu.DMD.Exon52.25.016 GTCCCATGCTTGTTAAAAAACTTAC 643 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.001 AGAACAAATATCCCTTAGTA 644 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.002 GTAAGAACAAATATCCCTTA 645 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.003 TGCCTGTAAGAACAAATATC 646 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.004 ATTGTTGCCTGTAAGAACAA 647 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.005 CCTGCATTGTTGCCTGTAAG 648 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.006 CAAATCCTGCATTGTTGCCT 649 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.007 GCCTCTGTTCCAAATCCTGC 650 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.008 CTTCCAACTGGGGACGCCTC 651 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.009 CAGCGGTAATGAGTTCTTCC 652 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.010 TTTTCAAATTTTGGGCAGCG 653 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.011 GATTGCTGGTCTTGTTTTTC 654 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.012 TTGTTCTAGCCTCTTGATTG 655 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.013 TTCGATCCGTAATGATTGTT 656 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.014 CTTACTTCGATCCGTAATGA 657 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.015 AAAAACTTACTTCGATCCGT 658 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.016 TGTTAAAAAACTTACTTCGA 659 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.017 ATGCTTGTTAAAAAACTTAC 660 Hu.DMD.Exon52.20.018 GTCCCATGCTTGTTAAAAAA 661 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.001 CTAGAATAAAAGGAAAAATAAATAT 662 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.002 AACTAGAATAAAAGGAAAAATAAAT 663 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.002.2 TTCAACTAGAATAAAAGGAAAAATA 664 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.003 CTTTCAACTAGAATAAAAGGAAAAA 665 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.003.2 ATTCTTTCAACTAGAATAAAAGGAA 666 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.004 GAATTCTTTCAACTAGAATAAAAGG 667 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.004.2 TCTGAATTCTTTCAACTAGAATAAA 668 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.005 ATTCTGAATTCTTTCAACTAGAATA 669 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.005.2 CTGATTCTGAATTCTTTCAACTAGA 670 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.006 CACTGATTCTGAATTCTTTCAACTA 671 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.006.2 TCCCACTGATTCTGAATTCTTTCAA 672 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.007 CATCCCACTGATTCTGAATTCTTTC 673 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.008 TACTTCATCCCACTGATTCTGAATT 674 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.009 CGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTACT 675 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.009.2 CTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGT 676 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.010 TTTCATTCAACTGTTGCCTCCGGTT 677 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.010.2 TAACATTTCATTCAACTGTTGCCTC 678 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.011 TTGTGTTGAATCCTTTAACATTTCA 679 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.012 TCTTCCTTAGCTTCCAGCCATTGTG 680 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.012.2 CTTAGCTTCCAGCCATTGTGTTGAA 681 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.013 GTCCTAAGACCTGCTCAGCTTCTTC 682 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.013.2 CTGCTCAGCTTCTTCCTTAGCTTCC 683 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.014 CTCAAGCTTGGCTCTGGCCTGTCCT 684 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.014.2 GGCCTGTCCTAAGACCTGCTCAGCT 685 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.015 TAGGGACCCTCCTTCCATGACTCAA 686 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.016 TTTGGATTGCATCTACTGTATAGGG 687 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.016.2 ACCCTCCTTCCATGACTCAAGCTTG 688 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.017 CTTGGTTTCTGTGATTTTCTTTTGG 689 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.017.2 ATCTACTGTATAGGGACCUCCTTC 690 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.018 CTAACCTTGGTTTCTGTGATTTTCT 691 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.018.2 TTTCTTTTGGATTGCATCTACTGTA 692 Hu.DMID.Exon53.25.019 TGATACTAACCTTGGTTTCTGTGAT 693 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.020 ATCTTTGATACTAACCTTGGTTTCT 694 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.021 AAGGTATCTTTGATACTAACCTTGG 695 Hu.DMD.Exon53.25.022 TTAAAAAGGTATCTTTGATACTAAC 696 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.001 ATAAAAGGAAAAATAAATAT 697 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.002 GAATAAAAGGAAAAATAAAT 698 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.003 AACTAGAATAAAAGGAAAAA 699 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.004 CTTTCAACTAGAATAAAAGG 700 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.005 GAATTCTTTCAACTAGAATA 701 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.006 ATTCTGAATTCTTTCAACTA 702 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.007 TACTTCATCCCACTGATTCT 703 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.008 CTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTACT 704 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.009 CTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAA 705 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.010 TAACATTTCATTCAACTGTT 706 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.011 TTGTGTTGAATCCTTTAACA 707 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.012 CTTAGCTTCCAGCCATTGTG 708 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.013 CTGCTCAGCTTCTTCCTTAG 709 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.014 GGCCTGTCCTAAGACCTGCT 710 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.015 CTCAAGCTTGGCTCTGGCCT 711 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.016 ACCCTCCTTCCATGACTCAA 712 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.017 ATCTACTGTATAGGGACCCT 713 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.018 TTTCTTTTGGATTGC.ATCTA 714 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.019 CTTGGTTTCTGTGATTTTCT 715 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.020 CTAACCTTGGTTTCTGTGAT 716 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.021 TGATACTAACCTTGGTTTCT 717 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.022 ATCTTTGATACTAACCTTGG 718 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.023 AAGGTATCTTTGATACTAAC 719 Hu.DMD.Exon53.20.024 TTAAAAAGGTATCTTTGATA 720 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.001 CTATAGATTTTTATGAGAAAGAGA 721 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.002 AACTGCTATAGATTTTTATGAGAAA 722 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.003 TGGCCAACTGCTATAGATTTTTATG 723 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.004 GTCTTTGGCCAACTGCTATAGATTT 724 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.005 CGGAGGTCTTTGGCCAACTGCTATA 725 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.006 ACTGGCGGAGGTCTTTGGCCAACTG 726 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.007 TTTGTCTGCCACTGGCGGAGGTCTT 727 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.008 AGTCATTTGCCACATCTACATTTGT 728 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.008.2 TTTGCCACATCTACATTTGTCTGCC 729 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.009 CCGGAGAAGTTTCAGGGCCAAGTCA 730 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.010 GTATCATCTGCAGAATAATCCCGGA 731 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.010.2 TAATCCCGGAGAAGTTTCAGGGCCA 732 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.011 TTATCATGTGGACTTTTCTGGTATC 733 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.012 AGAGGCATTGATATTCTCTGTTATC 734 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.012.2 ATGTGGACTTTTCTGGTATCATCTG 735 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.013 CTTTTATGAATGCTTCTCCAAGAGG 736 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.013.2 ATATTCTCTGTTATCATGTGGACTT 737 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.014 CATACCTTTTATGAATGCTTCTCCA 738 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.014.2 CTCCAAGAGGCATTGATATTCTCTG 739 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.015 TAATTCATACCTTTTATGAATGCTT 740 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.016 TAATGTAATTCATACCTTTTATGAA 741 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.017 AGAAATAATGTAATTCATACCTTTT 742 Hu.DMD.Exon54.25.018 GTTTTAGAAATAATGTAATTCATAC 743 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.001 GATTTTTATGAGAAAGAGA 744 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.002 CTATAGATTTTTATGAGAAA 745 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.003 AACTGCTATAGATTTTTATG 746 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.004 TGGCCAACTGCTATAGATTT 747 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.005 GTCTTTGGCCAACTGCTATA 748 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.006 CGGAGGTCTTTGGCCAACTG 749 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.007 TTTGTCTGCCACTGGCGGAG 750 Hu.DMD,Exon54,20,008 TTTGCCACATCTACATTTGT 751 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.009 TTCAGGGCCAAGTCATTTGC 752 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.010 TAATCCCGGAGAAGTTTCAG 753 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.011 GTATCATCTGCAGAATAATC 754 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.012 ATGTGGACTTTTCTGGTATC 755 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.013 ATATTCTCTGTTATCATGTG 756 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.014 CTCCAAGAGGCATTGATATT 757 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.015 CTTTTATGAATGCTTCTCCA 758 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.016 CATACCTTTTATGAATGCTT 759 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.017 TAATTCATACCTTTTATGAA 760 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.018 TAATGTAATTCATACCTTTT 761 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.019 AGAAATAATCTAATTCATAC 762 Hu.DMD.Exon54.20.020 GTTTTAGAAATAATGTAATT 763 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.001 CTGCAAAGGACCAAATGTTCAGATG 764 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.002 TCACCCTGCAAAGGACCAAATGTTC 765 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.003 CTCACTCACCCTGCAAAGGACCAAA 766 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.004 TCTCGCTCACTCACCCTGCAAAGGA 767 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.005 CAGCCTCTCGCTCACTCACCCTGCA 768 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.006 CAAAGCAGCCTCTCGCTCACTCACC 769 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.007 TCTTCCAAAGCAGCCTCTCGCTCAC 770 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.007.2 TCTATGAGTTTCTTCCAAAGCAGCC 771 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.008 GTTGCAGTAATCTATGAGTTTCTTC 772 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.008.2 GAACTGTTGCAGTAATCTATGAGTT 773 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.009 TTCCAGGTCCAGGGGGAACTGTTGC 774 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.010 GTAAGCCAGGCAAGAAACTTTTCCA 775 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.010.2 CCAGGCAAGAAACTTTTCCAGGTCC 776 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.011 TGGCAGTTGITTCAGCTTCTGTAAG 777 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.011.2 TTCAGCTTCTGTAAGCCAGGCAAGA 778 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.012 GGTAGCATCCTGTAGGACATTGGCA 779 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.012.2 GACATTGGCAGTTGTTTCAGCTTCT 780 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.013 TCTAGGAGCCTTTCCTTACGGGTAG 781 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.014 CTTTTACTCCCTTGGAGTCTTCTAG 782 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.014.2 GAGCCTTTCCTTACGGGTAGCATCC 783 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.015 TTGCCATTGTTTCATCAGCTCTTTT 784 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.015.2 CTTGGAGTCTTCTAGGAGCCTTTCC 785 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.016 CTTACTTGCCATTGTTTCATCAGCT 786 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.016.2 CAGCTCTTTTACTCCCTTGGAGTCT 787 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.017 CCTGACTTACTTGCCATTGTTTCAT 788 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.018 AAATGCCTGACTTACTTGCCATTGT 789 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.019 AGCGGAAATGCCTGACTTACTTGCC 790 Hu.DMD.Exon55.25.020 GCTAAAGCGGAAATGCCTGACTTAC 791 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.001 AAGGACCAAATGTTCAGATG 792 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.002 CTGCAAAGGACCAAATGTTC 793 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.003 TCACCCTGCAAAGGACCAAA 794 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.004 CTCACTCACCCTGCAAAGGA 795 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.005 TCTCGCTCACTCACCCTGCA 796 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.006 CAGCCTCTCGCTCACTCACC 797 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.007 CAAAGCAGCCTCTCGCTCAC 798 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.008 TCTATGAGTTTCTTCCAAAG 799 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.009 GAACTGTTGCAGTAATCTAT 800 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.010 TTCCAGGTCCAGGGGGAACT 801 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.011 CCAGGCAAGAAACTTTTCCA 802 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.012 TTCAGCTTCTGTAAGCCAGG 803 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.013 GACATTGGCAGTTGTTTCAG 804 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.014 GGTAGCATCCTGTAGGACAT 805 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.015 GAGCCTTTCCTTACGGGTAG 806 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20,016 CTTGGAGTCTTCTAGGAGCC 807 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.017 CAGCTCTTTTACTCCCTTGG 808 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.018 TTGCCATTGTTTCATCAGCT 809 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.019 CTTACTTGCCATTGTTTCAT 810 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.020 CCTGACTTACTTGCCATTGT 811 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.021 AAATGCCTGACTTACTTGCC 812 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.022 AGCGGAAATGCCTGACTTAC 813 Hu.DMD.Exon55.20.023 GCTAAAGCGGAAATGCCTGA 814 H50A (+02 +30)-AVI-5656 CCACTCAGAGCTCAGATCTTCTAACTTCC 815 H50D (+07-18)-AVI-5915 GGGATCCAGTATACTTACAGGCTCC 816 H50A (+07 +33) CTTCCACTCAGAGCTCAGATCTTCTAA 817 H51A (+61 +90)-AVI-4657 ACATCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCTAGTTTGG 818 H51A (+66 +95)-AVI-4658 CTCCAACATCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCTAG 819 H51A (+111 +134) TTCTGTCCAAGCCCGGTTGAAATC 820 H51A (+175 +195) CACCCACCATCACCCTCYGTG 821 H51A (+199 +220) ATCATCTCGTTGATATCCTCAA 822 H51A (+66 +90) ACATCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCTAG 823 H51A (-01 +3025) ACCAGAGTAACAGTCTGAGTAGGAGC 824 h51AON1 TCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCT 825 h51AON2 CCTCTGTGATTTTATAACTTGAT 826 H51D (+08 -17) ATCATTTTTTCTCATACCTTCTGCT 827 H51D (+16 -07) CTCATACCTTCTGCTTGATGATC 828 hAON#23 TGGCATTTCTAGTTTGG 829 hAON#24 CCAGAGCAGGTACCTCCAACATC 830 h44AON1 CGCCGCCATTTCTCAACAG 831 H45A (+71 +90) TGTTTTTGAGGATTGCTGAA 832 h45AON1 GCTGAATTATTTCTTCCCC 833 h45AON5 GCCCAATGCCATCCTGG 834 H45A (-06 +20) CCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGTAA 835 H53A (+39 +69) CATTCAACTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTG 836 h53AON1 CTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTG 837 H53A(-12 +10) ATTCTTTCAACTAGAATAAAAG 838 huEx45.30.66 GCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGTAAGATACCAAA 839 huEx45.30.71 CCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGTAAGATA 840 huEx45.30.79 GCCGCTGCCCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTTCCT 841 huEx45.30.83 GTTTGCCGCTGCCCAATGCCATCCTGGAGT 842 huEx45.30.88 CAACAGTTTGCCGCTGCCCAATGCCATCCT 843 huEx45.30.92 CTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCTGCCCAATGCCA 844 huEx45.30.96 TGTTCTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCTGCCCAAT 845 huEx45.30.99 CAATGTTCTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCTGCCC 846 huEx45.30.103 CATTCAATGTTCTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCT 847 huEx45.30.120 TATTTCTTCCCCAGTTGCATTCAATGTTCT 848 huEx45.30.127 GCTGAATTATTTCTTCCCCAGTTGCATTCA 849 huEx45.30.132 GGATTGCTGAATTATTTCTTCCCCAGTTGC 850 huEx45.30.137 TTTGAGGATTGCTGAATTATTTCTTCCCCA 851 huEx53.30.84 GTACTTCATCCCACTGATTCTGAATTCTTT 852 huEx53.30.88 TCTTGTACTTCATCCCACTGATTCTGAATT 853 huEx53.30.91 TGTTCTTGTACTTCATCCCACTGATTCTGA 854 huEx53.30.103 CGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTACTTCATCC 855 huEx53.30.106 CTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTACTTCA 856 huEx53.30.109 TGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTACT 857 huEx53.30.112 TGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCTTGT 858 huEx53.30.115 AACTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGTTCT 859 huEx53.30.118 TTCAACTGTTGCCTCCGGTTCTGAAGGTGT 860 h50AON1 h50AON2 Peptide Transporters (NH₂ to COOH)*: rTAT RRRQRRKKRC 861 R₉F₂ RRRRRRRRRFFC 862 (RRAhx)₄B RRAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxB 863 (RAhxR)₄AhxB; (P007) RAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxRAhxB 864 (AhxRR)₄AhxB AhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxB 865 (RAhx)₆B RAhxRAhxRAhxRAhxRAhxRAhxB 866 (RAhx)₈B RAhxRAhxRAhxRAhxRAhxRAhxRAhxB 867 (RAhxR)₅AhxB RAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxRAhxB 868 (RAhxRRBR)₂AhxB; RAhxRRBRRAhxRRBRAhxB 869 (CPO6062) MSP ASSLNIA 870 Cell Penetrating Peptide/Homing Peptide/PMO Conjugates (NH₂ to COOH and 5 to 3′) MSP-PMO ASSLNIA-XB- 871 GGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT 875 CP06062-MSP-PMO RXRRBRRXRRBR-XB-ASSLNIA-X- 872 GGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT 875 MSP-CP06062-PMO ASSLNIA-X-RXRRBRRXRRBR-B- 873 GGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT 875 CP06062-PMO RXRRBRRXRRBR-XB- 874 GGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT 875 *Ahx is 6-aminohexanoic acid and B is beta-alanine 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in a human subject who has a mutation of the DMD gene that is amenable to exon 51 skipping, comprising administering to the human subject a composition comprising eteplirsen and a phosphate-buffered saline at a dose of eteplirsen of about 30 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg for a period of time sufficient to increase the number of dystrophin-positive fibers in a subject to at least 20% of normal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein eteplirsen is administered for a period of time sufficient to increase the number of dystrophin positive fibers to about 50% of normal.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of eteplirsen is about 30 mg/kg.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is administered by systemic administration.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is administered once weekly by infusion.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering a steroid to the human subject.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the human subject is administered a stable dose of the steroid for at least 24 weeks prior to the first dose of eteplirsen.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the steroid is a glucocorticoid.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the human subject is 7 to 13 years of age.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the human subject is a boy.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the human subject is 7 to 13 years of age.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the human subject is a boy. 